Psalmopoeus
Psalmopoeus is a genus of the family Theraphosidae containing various species of tarantulas. The genus is native to Central America and South America including the West Indies. These species are believed to be relatively venomous, and research in the venom of P. cambridgei shows it to be similar to capsaicin, the molecule causing irritation in chili peppers.[2] These molecules activate sensory cells to send pain signals to the brain. Genetic engineers are working on blocking the receptors that are activated by these molecules.[2]
| Psalmopoeus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Psalmopoeus irminia | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Theraphosidae |
| Genus: | Psalmopoeus Pocock, 1895[1] |
List of species
As of May 2016, the World Spider Catalog accepted the following species:[1]
- Psalmopoeus cambridgei Pocock, 1895 (type species) – Trinidad
- Psalmopoeus ecclesiasticus Pocock, 1903 – Ecuador
- Psalmopoeus emeraldus Pocock, 1903 – Colombia
- Psalmopoeus intermedius Chamberlin, 1940 – Panama
- Psalmopoeus irminia Saager, 1994 – Venezuela
- Psalmopoeus langenbucheri Schmidt, Bullmer & Thierer-Lutz, 2006 – Venezuela
- Psalmopoeus plantaris Pocock, 1903 – Colombia
- Psalmopoeus pulcher Petrunkevitch, 1925 – Panama
- Psalmopoeus reduncus (Karsch, 1880) – Belize to Panama
- Psalmopoeus victori Mendoza, 2014 – Mexico
References
- "Gen. Psalmopoeus Pocock, 1895", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2016-05-21
- Anitei, Stefan (2006). Chili Peppers, as Strong as Tarantula Venom. Science.
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