Lyrognathus is a genus of Asian tarantulas that was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1895.
Species it contains seven species, all found in Asia: Lyrognathus achilles West & Nunn, 2010 – Borneo Lyrognathus crotalus Pocock, 1895 (type) – India Lyrognathus fuscus West & Nunn, 2010 – Borneo Lyrognathus giannisposatoi Nunn & West, 2013 – Indonesia (Sumatra) Lyrognathus lessunda West & Nunn, 2010 – Indonesia (Lombok) Lyrognathus robustus Smith, 1988 – Malaysia Lyrognathus saltator Pocock, 1900 – India
In synonymy: L. liewi West, 1991 = Lyrognathus robustus Smith, 1988 L. pugnax Pocock, 1900 = Lyrognathus crotalus Pocock, 1895
Description They are large tarantulas, grey or black in color. They have thick dense brushes of setae along the fourth tibia and metatarsi. The fourth coxa has an entirely hirsute retrolateral surface. The fourth metatarsus of females features an undivided scopula.Mondal, Ayan & Chanda, Debomay & Vartak, Atul & Kulkarni, Siddharth. (2020). A Field Guide to the Spider Genera of India.
Behaviour They are fossorial, constructing tubular burrows in loose clayey soil. They utilize organic debris/vegetation to make the mouth of the burrow.
References