Tliltocatl
2 species
Tliltocatl is a genus of North American tarantulas that was split off from Brachypelma in 2020. They are also large burrowing tarantulas, but don't have the striking red leg markings of Brachypelma species. A female T. vagans can grow up to 50 mm (2.0 in) long and legs can get as long as 55 mm (2.2 in). They are found predominantly in Mexico, with some species native to Central America. The name is derived from two Nahuatl words, "tlil", meaning "black", and "tocatl", meaning "spider". Habitat destruction and collection for the pet trade has led to this and Brachypelma to be protected under International Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species rules, beginning with B. smithi.
They are found in a variety of habitats, including deciduous forests, evergreen rainforests, and grasslands. They live in burrows, commonly found under rocks, logs, and tree roots. Some species dig burrows in farmlands and gardens. Species occur on both the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts as well as the Gulf of Mexico. Though they are native to Mexico and Central America, the precise distribution is uncertain due to widespread traffic in the pet market. T. kahlenbergi is only known from specimens originally sent to Germany from Veracruz intended to be sold as pets. Mendoza and Francke produced a map of confirmed specimens in 2020, and a distribution of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica is supported by the World Spider Catalog. In the text, Mendoza and Francke add Honduras and El Salvador.
Tliltocatl is a genus of North American tarantulas that was split off from Brachypelma in 2020. They are also large burrowing tarantulas, but don't have the striking red leg markings of Brachypelma species. A female T. vagans can grow up to 50 mm (2.0 in) long and legs can get as long as 55 mm (2.2 in). They are found predominantly in Mexico, with some species native to Central America. The name is derived from two Nahuatl words, "tlil", meaning "black", and "tocatl", meaning "spider". Habitat destruction and collection for the pet trade has led to this and Brachypelma to be protected under International Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species rules, beginning with B. smithi.
They are found in a variety of habitats, including deciduous forests, evergreen rainforests, and grasslands. They live in burrows, commonly found under rocks, logs, and tree roots. Some species dig burrows in farmlands and gardens. Species occur on both the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts as well as the Gulf of Mexico. Though they are native to Mexico and Central America, the precise distribution is uncertain due to widespread traffic in the pet market. T. kahlenbergi is only known from specimens originally sent to Germany from Veracruz intended to be sold as pets. Mendoza and Francke produced a map of confirmed specimens in 2020, and a distribution of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica is supported by the World Spider Catalog. In the text, Mendoza and Francke add Honduras and El Salvador.
