Ybyrapora

Ybyrapora is a genus of spiders in the family Theraphosidae (tarantulas), found in Brazil. Its species were formerly placed in the genus Avicularia.^[1]

Ybyrapora
Female Ybyrapora gamba
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Mygalomorphae
Family:	Theraphosidae
Genus:	Ybyrapora Fukushima & Bertani, 2017[1]
Type species
Avicularia sooretama Bertani & Fukushima, 2009[1]

Description

Ybrapora consists of species that are smaller than most aviculariines. Females have strongly curved, almost non-sclerotized (i.e. non-hardened) spermathecae. The tibial apophysis (outgrowth) on the first leg is absent or small. Individuals show major colour changes as they mature. Immature spiders have a central reddish mark with jagged edges running along the centre of the abdomen, surrounded by a dark area connected to similarly dark coloured stripes running across the abdomen. These patterns become duller or disappear in adults, particularly females.^[2]

• Colour patterns
• 
  Immature Y. gamba
• 
  Adult female Y. gamba
• 
  Adult male Y. gamba
• 
  Adult female Y. sooretama

Taxonomy

The genus was erected by Caroline Sayuri Fukushima and Rogério Bertani in 2017 for three species formerly placed in Avicularia which they regarded as distinct, both in their morphology and distribution. The genus name is derived from the Tupi language and means "tree dweller", referring to the arboreal habit of the genus.^[2]

Phylogeny

A morphological phylogenetic study in 2017 suggested that the genus is most closely related to Iridopelma, forming a clade with Antillena, Caribena, Iridopelma and Pachistopelma, distinct from Avicularia:^[2]

	Avicularia Antillena Caribena Iridopelma marcoi Pachistopelma Ybyrapora Iridopelma

Species

As of March 2017^[update], the World Spider Catalog accepted the following species, all transferred from Avicularia:^[1]

• Ybyrapora diversipes (C.L. Koch, 1842) – Brazil
• Ybyrapora gamba (Bertani & Fukushima, 2009) – Brazil
• Ybyrapora sooretama (Bertani & Fukushima, 2009) (type species) – Brazil

Distribution and habitat

Ybrapora species are found in the Atlantic rainforest of Brazil, from Bahia to the south of Rio de Janeiro.^[2]