Selenocosmiinae

South-East Asia and Australia are home to numerous species of the tarantula subfamily Selenocosmiinae (Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae). A lyra on the maxillae and strikers on the chelicerae are diagnostic of this subfamily of spiders, which enables them to stridulate and make a “hissing” sound. Some Phlogiellus species may have retained their strikers while secondary losing their lyra. Only a small number of studies have used genetic data from many taxa within the subfamily to test for monophyly. Selenocosmiinae is most closely linked to the Indian Thrigmopoeinae, according to this research, which also indicated that taxa formerly listed in this subfamily were actually their own independent subfamily (Poecilotheria). There are currently 11 genera in the Selenocosmiinae subfamily as of 2023.

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Additional links & literature reference

  • West RC, Nunn SC, Hogg S (2012) A new tarantula genus, Psednocnemis, from West Malaysia (Araneae: Theraphosidae), with cladistic analyses and biogeography of Selenocosmiinae Simon 1889. Zootaxa 3299 1 43;

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