"Theraphosid tarantulas impressed naturalists since early times due to their large size, spectacular appearance, and extraordinary behaviors. However, the study of their taxonomy and especially their biology slowly increased until the second half of the twentieth century. The book of Baerg 1958 was one of the first contributions to the biology of North American theraphosids. Since the 1960s, starting with the papers of Argentinean arachnologists Gerschman de Pikelin and Schiapelli, the knowledge of the taxonomy of Neotropical tarantulas becomes more rigorous and some genera and subfamilies were seriously reviewed. The first cladistic analysis of Mygalomorphae done by Raven 1985 was a landmark in the taxonomy of the group and stimulated several colleagues to study the phylogeny of several mygalomorph families including Theraphosidae.
During the last few decades, many researchers interested in Theraphosidae from all over the world made relevant contributions in the study of tarantulas, mainly in taxonomical and phylogenetic aspects but also in biological aspects. The development of tarantula hobby also contributed to informal but valuable observations on breeding and other aspects of biology.
I prefer to use the name tarantula for the theraphosid spiders although it was originally used for lycosids because tarantula was widely extended in scientific and popular language for Theraphosidae, and I think the language is alive and dynamic.
I have been working on the taxonomy and biology of tarantulas for more than 40 years. This experience gave me the opportunity and privilege to know most specialists in the world, and I invited most of them to participate in this book. I trust their expertise and knowledge shared in this book could constitute a good motivation for students and researchers to continue developing studies in this fascinating group." (Fernando Perez-Milez)
Apreciem sem moderação.
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