Three new arboreal theraphosid spiders of the
genus Phormingochilus Pocock, 1895 are here
described from Sulawesi and Sarawak,
Borneo: Phormingochilus carpenteri sp. nov.,
P. kirki sp. nov., and P. pennellhewletti sp. nov.
The genus has been revised and historical
species redescribed. The authors have also
discussed the placement of the
Ornithoctoninae genera Cyriopagopus Simon,
1887, Lampropelma Simon, 1892 and
Omothymus Thorell, 1891 and, after an
examination of the type material, concluded
that Cyriopagopus is a senior synonym of the
genus Haplopelma Simon, 1892 and that the
genus Omothymus needs to be restored to
house the arboreal Malaysian mainland
species schioedtei (Thorell, 1891) and thorelli
(Simon, 1901), which were formerly assigned
to the genus Cyriopagopus but have now
been restored to their original placement. We
have also concluded, on examination of the
type material that the female of Lampropelma
violaceopes Abraham, 1924 from Southern
Malaysia should be removed from the genus
Lampropelma (whose distribution at present,
we believe to be limited to Lampropelma
nigerrimum from Sangihe (Sangir) Island) and
placed in the genus Omothymus, whereas the
male, from Penang, is deemed to be a
misidentified specimen of Cyriopagopus
(Omothymus) schioedtei.
British Tarantula Society Journal 30(3): 25-48