The theraphosid subfamily Ornithoctoninae can be found all throughout Asia, from the northernmost reaches of Myanmar and South China to the southernmost reaches of the Indonesian archipelago and everything in between. There are few arboreal species in this subfamily, although most of the members dwell in burrows.
This subfamily of tarantula spiders are called “Earth Tigers” and are known by most locals in their country of origin. The amount of new species getting discovered, especially arboreal living ones from the island of Borneo and the Philippines is astounding and will continue to impress enthusiasts around the world for quite some time.
The Southeast Asian region is home to the Ornithoctoninae tarantula subfamily. Reginald Innes Pocock first constructed it in 1895 using the type specimen of Ornithoctonus andersoni.
![Cyriopagopus cf doriae (Thorell, 1890)], female, Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak - Borneo](https://birdspiders.ch/wp-content/gallery/theraphosidae/Cyriopagopus-cf-doriae-Thorell-1890-female-Brunei-Sabah-Sarawak-Borneo.jpg "Cyriopagopus cf doriae (Thorell, 1890)], female, Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak - Borneo")
Additional blog posts
Additional links & references
- Overview of Ornithoctoninae at Tarantupedia / https://www.tarantupedia.com/ornithoctoninae
- Wirth, V. von & Striffler, B. F. (2005). Neue Erkenntnisse zur Vogelspinnen — Unterfamilie Ornithoctoninae, mit Beschreibung von Ornithoctonus aureotibialis sp. n. und Haplopelma longipes sp. n. (Araneae, Theraphosidae). Arthropoda 13(2): 2-27.
- Hauke, T. & Wirth, V. von (2015). Haplopelma longipes von Wirth & Striffler 2005 – introduction of a new colour form in the hobby. British Tarantula Society Journal 30(1): 44-53.
- Smith, A. M. & Jacobi, M. A. (2015). Revision of the genus Phormingochilus with the description of three new species from Sulawesi and Sarawak and notes on the placement of the genera Cyriopagopus, Lampropelma and Omothymus. British Tarantula Society Journal 30(3): 25-48.