Guyruita

Guyruita is a small genus of South American tarantulas in the family Theraphosidae, first established in 2007 by J. P. L. Guadanucci and colleagues. The genus was created to accommodate two new Brazilian species, Guyruita cerrado (the type species) and G. atlantica, and to receive Holothele waikoshiemi from Venezuela, which was transferred into the new genus based on shared anatomical features.

Since its description, Guyruita has gradually expanded as additional species have been described from Brazil, including G. isae and G. giupponii in 2018, and G. guadanuccii from French Guiana in 2020. Today, the genus includes six recognized species distributed across Brazil, Venezuela and French Guiana.

The name Guyruita comes from the Tupi language and means “to go underneath rocks,” a nod to the way these compact, secretive tarantulas shelter under stones and other ground cover in their natural habitats.