Singapore Blue Tarantula
This species is easily differentiated from other Singapore theraphosids by its sheer size, arboreal habit, well-developed scopulae (velvety foot pads) on the tarsi, and its vibrant violet-blue colouration among juveniles and adult females. Mature males are brown. The colouration is produced by an optical effect when light strikes on the nanostructures of its hairs. It is a non-iridescent and vivid blue. Regardless of the angle of the light, the hue ("peak reflectance") remains constant, although the brightness (intensity) may vary. The blue colouration diminishes prior to moulting, being replaced by a brownish tone, and causing the spider to appear like a totally different species. Apart from the hairs that give the spider its unique violet-blue colouration, the body and legs are also covered with longer, golden hairs.
| Length | ♀ > 46 mm; ♂ 40 mm |
| Distribution | Singapore, Malaysia (Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang), Indonesia (Riau). |
| Habitat | In holes and deep recesses in tree trunks in mangroves and secondary forests. |
| Biology | When provoked, the female, with cephalothorax and forelegs raised, may emit an audible hiss while striking at or towards the source of the perceived threat. |
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
Class Arachnida (Arachnids)
Order Araneae (Spiders)
Suborder Mygalomorphae (Mygalomorphs)
Superfamily Avicularioidea
Holotype
British Museum of Natural History (BMNH)/Natural History Museum (NHMUK), London, UK; ♀ (1924.27.19.1.37) (Gabriel & Sherwood, 2019c)
Paratype
National University of Singapore, Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, Singapore; 9♀ 2 Juvenile (301099.1924.11, 1924.27.19.1.37?); in part in FMS Museum and in coll. Abraham per Abraham, 1924; ♂ belongs to Omothymus schioedtei (Müller et al., 2024)
Lampropelma violaceopedes (Original description ♀; ♂ see Omothymus schioedtei; specific epithets cannot be plural)
Abraham, 1924 Some mygalomorph spiders from the Malay Peninsula: 1108, pl. 5, f. 19-22 doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1924.tb03332.x
Lampropelma violaceopedes (♂♀)
Smith, 1990a A question of colour: 14, f. 1-15
Lampropelma violaceopes (♂♀)
Schmidt, 2003l Die Vogelspinnen: Eine weltweite Übersicht: 252, f. 826-830
Omothymus violaceopes (T from Lampropelma; not followed here, because not sufficiently justified)
Smith & Jacobi, 2015 Revision of the genus Phormingochilus with the description of three new species from Sulawesi and Sarawak and notes on the placement of the genera Cyriopagopus, Lampropelma and Omothymus: 29
Omothymus violaceopes (♂, Transferred from Lampropelma)
Gabriel & Sherwood, 2019c The revised taxonomic placement of some arboreal Ornithoctoninae Pocock, 1895 with description of a new species of Omothymus Thorell, 1891 (Araneae: Theraphosidae): 140, f. 20-21 doi:10.13156/arac.2018.18.2.137
* Retrieved from the World Spider Catalog.
Singapore, Malaysia (Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang), Indonesia (Riau).