Distribution of Tarantulas in Utah
Three tarantulas species are currently listed as occurring in Utah, Aphonpelma iodius, A. mojave, and A. zionis. Aphonopelma angusi and A. melanium were described from the state but were treated as synonyms of A. iodius by Prentice (1997). The Aphonopelma fauna of Utah, along with that of several other southwestern states, has received very little attention and current published research is virtually nonexistent; an unfortunate fact given the ecological diversity of this region and a concomitant potential for new, undescribed species. The county records above reflect only the limited published distributional data available (Chamberlin and Ivie, 1939; Chamberlin, 1940; Smith, 1995; Prentice, 1997). A significant amount of work needs to be conducted in Utah to assess the taxonomic status and distribution of species across the state.
Literature Cited
- Chamberlin, R. V. 1940. New American tarantulas of the family Aviculariidae. Bulletin of the University of Utah 30:1-39.
- Chamberlin, R.V. and W. Ivie. 1939. New tarantulas from the southwestern states. Bulletin of the University of Utah 29:1-17.
- Prentice, T.R. 1997. Theraphosidae of the Mojave Desert west and north of the Colorado River (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae). Journal of Arachnology 25:137-176.
- Smith, A. M. 1995. Tarantula spiders: tarantulas of the U.S.A. and Mexico. Fitzgerald Publishing, London.
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