User:Spider Conservation Unit Sri Lanka/Poecilotheria smithi

Poecilotheria smithi Poecilotheria is one of the threatened spider genera, and comes under the Family Theraphosidae (the tarantulas). Several species in the Poecilotheria genus are at risk of extinction due to illegal collections, plus fragmentation and loss of native habitats. Found only in India and Sri Lanka (Smith, 2001), 16 Poecilotheria species have been identified and recorded taxonomically (Perera, 2009), and five of them (P. subfusca, P. onata, P. fasiata, P. pederseni and P. smithi) are found native and existing in Sri Lanka (Samarawckrama et al., 2005). The recent discovery of a Poecilotheria will be the 17th species for the Poecilotheria list and the 6th species in Sri Lanka (Perera, 2012). The Poecilotheria genus commonly has a broad distribution in Sri Lanka and India (Pocock, 1900). Ancestral Poecilotheria may have originated from one primitive (mygalomorph) species or group in the Indian continent, which later differentiated into several species (Perera, 2010; 2012). Little is known about Poecilotheria behaviour, ecology and distribution as they have been little studied in their wild habitats. Poecilotheria smithi is one of those species found in Sri Lanka that is on the brink of extinction (Gabriel et al., 2005). Found in only one locality, the species is under threat by rapidly developing urban activities. Specifically, the high interest among the pet trade has made P. smithi selectively removed from its natural habitat. ...