Phoneutria - distribution

The genus Phoneutria is distributed from Central America (Costa Rica) to southern (subtropical) South America. Brazil is the home of Phoneutria - all eight valid species can be found there.


In Brazil, there are the relatively widespread Amazonian species P. boliviensis, P. fera and P. reidyi and the Atlantic Forest species P. bahiensis, restricted to the northeastern states of Bahia and Espírito Santo. P. keyserlingi is restricted to the coastal region from Rio de Janeiro to Santa Catarina and P. eickstedtae to inland fragments of the Atlantic Forest.

Next to P. boliviensis, which occurs from Central America to the Amazon regions of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, and next to P. fera and P. reidyi (the "Amazonian species"), P. nigriventer is the fourth most widely distributed species, occuring throughout wide parts of (southeastern) Brazil  to Northern Argentina, and parts of Uruguay and Paraguay.

Phoneutria reidyi in its tropical environment
Phoneutria reidyi undisturbed on a leaf