Distribution and natural history of Mexican species of Brachypelma and Brachypelmides (Theraphosidae, Theraphosinae) with morphological evidence for their synonymy

This comparision of Brachypelmides and Brachypelma species is based on newl y collected spiders and more than 100 specimens from five museum collection s. The results show that there are six endemic species of Brachypelma in we stern Mexico (B. auratum, B. baumgarteni, B. boehmei, B. emilia, B. pallidu m, B. smithi), presenting a gap in their distribution only where Brachypelm ides klaasi is found. Brachypelma vagans is distributed along both coasts o f Mexico and Brachypelmides ruhnaui is found in the central part of Mexico. Notes on natural history, a morphological comparison of 27 characters of t hese genera, and a discussion of the generic affinities are included.