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Research dossier · Science & Nature

Idiothele

genus of spiders

Specimen drawers, botanical folios and brass scientific instruments under study light
Science and natureInterpretive dossier study · Crown Archives visual atlas
Record originEnglish Wikipedia
Text licenseCC BY-SA 4.0
Source revisionMar 27, 2026
Entity authorityQ3014044 ↗
Source-derived summary

Idiothele is a genus of African tarantulas that was first described by J. Hewitt in 1919. While originally described as their own genus, Idiothele was synonymized with Pterinochilus in 1985, due to similar morphological characteristics. This was later reversed by Richard C. Gallon in 2002, citing differences in both morphology and behavior.

Idiothele is the only genus of African tarantulas whose members make trap doors at the entrance of their burrow.

Editorial summary

The public source identifies “Idiothele” as genus of spiders. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Idiothele, genus and spiders.

Editorial reviewA practical orientation to terminology and classification, particularly when read beside dated observations, specimens or technical literature. The current lead gives the account dated anchors—1919, 1985, 2002—that can be checked directly. The selected authority fields contribute no independent date. Its value is orientation rather than verdict, with Idiothele, genus and spiders providing the first useful test.
Editorial analysis

Why this record matters

A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Idiothele”, the useful work is to connect “genus of spiders” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.

Evidence profile

The date and method of observation matter as much as the stated conclusion, especially where classification or consensus has changed. The source revision retrieved here is dated Mar 27, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q3014044. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1919, 1985 and 2002.

Critical limits

Scientific names, classifications and consensus can change while older terminology persists in catalogues and historical literature. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.

How to read it

Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.

Best used for
  • Current terminology
  • Classification context
  • Finding cited technical literature
Verify next

Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.

Three-step research path

  1. Establish the record: confirm the title “Idiothele”, its source revision and the description used here.
  2. Expand the search: follow Idiothele primary sources, Idiothele archive and Idiothele research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
  3. Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.

Questions for further research

  1. Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Idiothele”?
  2. Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
  3. Has classification or technical consensus changed since the cited source?
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Source & attribution

This entry incorporates text from “Idiothele” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.