Awesome information man, thank you for that!
That would make sense...if they weren't nocturnal...
The P. subfusca gynandromorph was a pure highland from what I remember. Gynandromorphism has nothing to do with being a result of a hybrid, and has little to do with this thread.
Of course it is cooler at night and at higher altitude, that's basic knowledge. I'm not buying that theory though without some sort of proof/account of this occurring in nature. A large nocturnal/photophobic spider likely isn't going to "sunbathe" out in the open during the afternoon, and risk being vulnerable to a bird or other predator. Also, such a "warming effect" of the day isn't going to last it much into the night. The environmental temperature would drop with time after sundown, as would the spider especially considering it's relatively small mass. You could put an ectothermic tarantula in your fridge and it would be somewhat sluggish and slowed in 15 to 20 minutes; a similar if exaggerated effect. I'm sure the "Highland" subfusca has a better way of adapting, aside from a somewhat darker coloration than it's lower elevation relatives. Not to mention that P. rufilata, in keeping with this theory, should also have a strong black coloration as an adaptation for living in a montane environment. But it doesn't.
It's wrongly used, though. It's not valid. People over here use it because buyers recognize it.
- With Poecilotheria's cryptic markings/coloring, they certainly aren't easy to see, which is why my adults usually remain motionless when I open their cages. They seem to be under the impression I can't see them. On the bark of a large tree (with the exception of metallica), I probably wouldn't.
Thanks for the correction, I may have misread it, thought it was a highland/lowland hybrid which resulted in a gynandromorph.
I have allways looked at it as light in highlands, but i can see what you mean, it is actually more dark to the common eye. So i changed my description with modifications from you, so it should be more understandable now!
