Megaphobema

Megaphobema
M. velvetosoma
M. robustum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Theraphosidae
Genus: Megaphobema
Pocock, 1901
Type species
M. robustum
(Ausserer, 1875)
Species

4, see text

Megaphobema is a genus of tarantulas that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1901. They look similar to members of Pamphobeteus except for its legs; the third and fourth pairs of legs are much larger and stronger than the first two pairs.

Distribution

Its described species are found in Ecuador, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica and Peru.

Species

As of October 2025, this genus includes four species:

M. velvetosoma Left:Brown morph Right:Black Morph

M. mesomelas and M. peterklaasi were transferred to the new genus Abdomegaphobema in 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Gen. Megaphobema Pocock, 1901". World Spider Catalog. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2025-10-28.
  2. 1 2 Pocock, R. I. (1901). "Some new and old genera of S.-American Avicularidae". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 8 (7): 540–555. doi:10.1080/03745480109443359.
  3. ↑ Sherwood, D.; Gabriel, R.; Peñaherrera-R., P.; León-E., R. J.; Cisneros-Heredia, D. F.; Brescovit, A. D.; Lucas, S. M. (2023). "Pamphobeteus Pocock, 1901: redescriptions, new species and records, description of a missing sex, with taxonomic notes and changes in Megaphobema Pocock, 1901 (Araneae: Theraphosidae)". Arachnology. 19: 894–930. doi:10.13156/arac.2023.19.6.894.