Vitalius
Vitalius is a genus of South American tarantulas that was first described by S. Lucas, P. I. da Silva Jr. & Rogério Bertani in 1993.
Distribution
The described species are mainly endemic to Brazil, with V. paranaensis reaching into Argentina.Diagnosis
They can be distinguished from other tarantulas by the lack of stridulating hairs on the prolateral side of coxa 1 and in the palpal bulb. By the absence of scopula on the side of femur 1, and metatarsus 1 closing between the male spur branches.Taxonomy
V. wacketi was elevated to monotypic genus Tekoapora in 2023.Species
, this genus includes eleven species:- Vitalius australis Galleti-Lima, Hamilton, Borges & Guadanucci, 2023 – Brazil
- Vitalius buecherli Bertani, 2001 – Brazil
- Vitalius chromatus – Brazil
- Vitalius dubius – Brazil
- Vitalius lucasae Bertani, 2001 – Brazil
- Vitalius ornatissimus Bertani & Motta, 2024 – Brazil
- Vitalius paranaensis Bertani, 2001 – Brazil, Argentina
- Vitalius restinga Bertani, 2023 – Brazil
- Vitalius sapiranga Bertani, 2023 – Brazil
- Vitalius sorocabae – Brazil
- Vitalius vellutinus – Brazil
In Synonymy">Synonym (taxonomy)">Synonymy
- V. cephalopheus = Vitalius vellutinus
- V. cesteri = Vitalius dubius
- V. communis = Vitalius dubius
- V. cucullatus = Vitalius dubius
- V. exsul = Vitalius dubius
- V. melanocephalus = Vitalius sorocabae
- V. melloleitaoi = Vitalius nondescriptus
- V. mus = Vitalius dubius
- V. piracicabensis = Vitalius dubius
- V. sylviae = Vitalius sorocabae
- V. urbanicola = Vitalius dubius
- V. ypiranguensis = ''Vitalius dubius''
Nomina dubia">Nomen dubium">Nomina dubia
- V. platyomma - Brazil
- V. rondoniensis - Brazil
- V. tetracanthus - Brazil