vijaybarve's Favorites

Rhagodima cf. nigrocincta

Cincta (cinctus, cinctum) in latin means "surrounded by". So the portmanteau "nigrocincta" can mean "surrounding by black color". This might refer to colors and patterns on the abdomen of this species. Or it may not refer to black patches on some legs which does not form full circle/ring as in R. Annulata.

But these informations are not clear to me as per the description by Henry Meyners Bernard who described the species as Rhax nigrocincta along with Rhax Howesii (currently assigned as Rhagodes melanopygus). Another information I can find is that as per Simon's 1885 description R. annulata has body length of 18mm and as per Bernard's description of R. nigrocincta is around 1.25 to 2 inches. T̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶p̶e̶c̶i̶m̶e̶n̶ ̶w̶e̶ ̶s̶a̶w̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶a̶r̶o̶u̶n̶d̶ ̶1̶.̶2̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶1̶.̶5̶ ̶i̶n̶c̶h̶e̶s̶ ̶l̶o̶n̶g̶.̶ (The specimen was just 2 cms long after I re-checked the video where it climbed to my friend's hand. Videograb is attached as last photo.)

Henry Meyners Bernard's 1894 article on the species called "On two new species of Rhax. Journal of Linnean Soicety London" can be read here: https://ww.rcin.org.pl/dlibra/publication/88759/edition/67942/content?ref=struct

The illustrations on the book has been digitized and uploaded to Wiki Commons over here:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhagodima_nigrocincta.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rhagodima_nigrocincta_cutted.jpg

Comparing the images above I can see similar black patches on the legs. Also the white moustache pattern has good resemblance on the individual. But I don't see the spurs specified in illustrations.

Note: I am not conforming on the species level identification here. I have just added my notes here for future reference for anybody who wants to take this subject for research.

Featured links:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_IRP2ZA02t/

https://twitter.com/inaturalist/status/1251551116027805698

https://www.facebook.com/inaturalist/posts/pfbid02Fja8b97GMMmc4V5FAbNAoccbEETKiDDF59KX7BzdsWV3rqReRq1x4HJa4T9m41cFl

On the same Plant:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/14937968 : egglaying
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/15836883: Egg
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/15837081 :Cat Stage 2
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/15836905 : cat stage 3
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/15837066: Cat Stage 4