Critically Endangered
Poecilotheria metallica
Poecilotheria metallica
Poecilotheria metallica is a spider in the family Theraphosidae (order Araneae), recorded as Critically Endangered.
Appearance
Poecilotheria metallica has similar intricate geometric body coloration to other Poecilotheria species, but it is the only species in the genus to be covered in blue hair. While it is young, P. Metallica is less chromatic, the coloring turns to blue as it matures. Like others in its genus it exhibits an intricate fractal-like pattern on the abdomen.
When full size, the leg span of P. Metallica is 15–20 cm (6–8 in).
Range and habitat
Poecilotheria metallica is found only in a small area of less than 100 square kilometres (39 sq mi), a reserve forest that is nonetheless highly disturbed. Surveys of adjacent forest have failed to observe this species. The type specimen was discovered in a railway timber yard in Gooty about 100 km southwest of its known range, but it is believed to have been transported there by train.
Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.
Diet
The primary prey consists of various flying insects.
In crisis
It has been classified as Critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). P. Metallica is classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to its occurrence in a single, small area in that habitat is rapidly degrading due to logging and firewood harvesting. Another threat identified by IUCN assessors is the collection of specimens for pet trade.
Population size is unknown, but the combination of its small natural range and the habitat threats indicates a declining population trend. Wingham has experience in maintaining captive populations of Peacock Tarantula and will be offering its scientific expertise for the survey of the species within Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve (NSTR).
CITES lists this taxon on Appendix II. Confirm the current appendix on the CITES checklist.
Poecilotheria metallica is Critically Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.
Sources
Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Poecilotheria metallica, Wikidata item Q135749. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.
