Vitalius chromatus

size 1.5” Well started, showing adult colors. 

This beautiful new world terrestrial spider has such striking colors that it’s become a hobby favorite over the years. Black body with red abdominal hairs and unmistakable white pin stripes down the legs. Described by the late arachnologist Günter Schmidt of Germany.  These spiders were incorrectly sold as Lasiodora cristata for many years, and I suspect it will probably have another name change at some point in the future. Whatever it’s called, it’s quite a stunning spider.  

(Taxonomy update. This spider has been moved to the genus Vitalius December 2023 

Bertani, R. (2023). Taxonomic revision and cladistic analysis of Lasiodora C. L. Koch, 1850 (Araneae, Theraphosidae) with notes on related genera. Zootaxa 5390(1): 1-116.)