06.11.2021

"Bonnetina papalutlensis" = Bonnetina tanzeri Schmidt 2012

Some time ago, a new species of tarantula was introduced to the hobby as Bonnetina papalutlensis in various Facebook groups by the belgian dealer Oly Lenskens. Jorge Mendoza, a specialist for mexican tarantulas and Volker von Wirth expressed doubts that the spider pictured was indeed Bonnetina papalutlensis (Pic 1). Then, two weeks ago, we received from Oly Lenskens two exuviae of this species from two adult females for identification. The initial description of Bonnetina papalutlensis by Mendoza and the excellent 2017 revision of the genus Bonnetina by Ortiz and Francke were used for identification.

Based on the identification key for the females of the genus Bonnetina on page 838 of the mentioned revision, the alleged papalutlensis could be identified quite clearly as Bonnetina tanzeri Schmidt 2012 (Pic 2)!

The following characteristics led to this result:

- B. papalutlensis has a single-lobed spermatheca with a distinct finger-like elevation in the middle (Pic 3). The present specimen lacks this finger-like elevation. Its spermatheca forms only a single curved lobe (Pic 4). There is only one species known within the genus Bonnetina that has this spermathecal shape and that is Bonnetina tanzeri Schmidt, 2012 (Pic 5)!

- The arrangement of the labial and maxillary cuspules, the shape of the "labial mounds" and sternum, and the position of the sternal sigils in the type specimen of B. tanzeri (Pic 6) are consistent with the arrangement in the present exuvium (Pic 7).

- The fovea (Pic 8 ) and the anterior eye row (Pic 9) are procurved in the present exuvium, similar to the type of B. tanzeri. Only the posterior eye row is strongly recurved in the exuvium, whereas it is described as slightly recurved in B. tanzeri.

- The scopulation of the metatarsi of all legs approximates B. tanzeri in the exuvium (Pics 10 - 13). Only the tarsus of the 3rd leg is not slightly divided by hairs as indicated for B. tanzeri.

- Also, the relation factor between leg I and IV of B. tanzeri (length 85) approximately agrees with that of the present exuvium (length 80).

- On the opisthosoma only urticating hairs of type 3 could be found dorsally (Pic 14), but this speaks only in general for the genus Bonnetina!

Resumè: Due to the genital morphological similarities of the examined exuvia of a female of that species, which was marketed by Oly Lenskens as "Bonnetina papalutlensis", we are convinced that this species is in fact Bonnetina tanzeri Schmidt, 2012. Not least because more of the above characteristics are consistent with the description of this species in the revision mentioned below. The pending examination of the adult male will confirm our diagnosis or even show that it will be a new, previously undescribed species closely related to B. tanzeri. However, as we could show, it will definitely NOT be Bonnetina papalutlensis, as already suspected by Volker von Wirth and Jorge Mendoza in various Facebook groups! In the meantime our diagnosis could be confirmed by the examination of a male of Bonnetina "papalutlensis" HERE!

References:

Mendoza M., J. I. (2012). Bonnetina papalutlensis a new species of tarantula from Guerrero, Mexico, with notes on reproduction (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Theraphosinae). Revista Ibérica de Aracnología 20: 57-62.

Ortiz, D. & Francke, O. F. (2017). Reconciling morphological and molecular systematics in tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae): revision of the Mexican endemic genus Bonnetina. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 180(4): 819-886.