Cyriopagopus hainanus
Cyriopagopus hainanus is a species of spider in the family Theraphosidae, found in China. It is one of a number of species from China and Vietnam known as "Chinese bird spider". It produces a venom containing numerous compounds capable of blocking neurotransmitters, including neurotoxic peptides called hainantoxins.
Description
Cyriopagopus hainanus resembles C. schmidti, but can be distinguished by its dark black-brown body and the longer "thorns" on the forward-facing side of the maxillae. The carapace is red-brown; and the abdomen is dark brown, with six black stripes running across it and a black stripe down the centre of the upper surface.The female is about 60 mm long. The first leg is longest, at about 67 mm, the third being the shortest, at about 51 mm. The spermatheca is M-shaped. The male is smaller, about 34 mm long. The fourth leg is the longest, at about 61 mm, the third being the shortest, at about 47 mm. Thus, although the body is significantly smaller than that of the female, the male's legs are of a similar length. The tibiae of the first legs have a spur on the forward-facing side. The palpal bulb is pear-shaped, with a wide, curved embolus.
C. hainanus makes burrows, lined with silk, and often with silk alarm lines radiating from the mouth. The spider remains in its burrow during the day, emerging only at night to catch prey, mainly large insects.