Golden comb-footed spider Temporal range: | |
---|---|
male C. pulcherrima | |
female C. spiniventris | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Araneae |
Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
Family: | Theridiidae |
Genus: | Chrysso O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1882 [1] |
Type species | |
C. albomaculata O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1882 | |
Species | |
64, see text | |
Synonyms [1] | |
Chrysso is a genus of comb-footed spiders that was first described by Octavius Pickard-Cambridge in 1882. [3]
C. pulcherrima is pantropical, C. spiniventris has been introduced to Europe, and C. nordica occurs both in North America and in Asia from Hungary to Mongolia.
Many species are strikingly colored, but like most theridiids, the coloration is variable. C. compressa has a striking black sternum and abdomen, but the venter of Brazilian species is black, while those of Peru are yellow. C. venusta has been observed to rapidly change its color when disturbed.
Females are about 9 millimetres (0.35 in) long, and have blade-like hairs on the tip of the abdomen.
As of May 2020 [update] it contains sixty-four species, mostly found in the Americas and Asia: [1]
Formerly included:
Achaearanea is a genus of comb-footed spiders that was first described by Embrik Strand in 1929.
The genus name is a combination of the Ancient Greek "argyros" (άργυρος), meaning "silver", and the suffix "-odes", meaning "like".
Cyclosa, also called trashline orbweavers, is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by Anton Menge in 1866. Widely distributed worldwide, spiders of the genus Cyclosa build relatively small orb webs with a web decoration. The web decoration in Cyclosa spiders is often linear and includes prey remains and other debris, which probably serve to camouflage the spider. The name "Cyclosa" comes from Greek 'to move in a circle', referring to how it spins its web.
Neoscona, known as spotted orb-weavers and barn spiders, is a genus of orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae) first described by Eugène Simon in 1895 to separate these from other araneids in the now obsolete genus Epeira. The name Neoscona was derived from the Greek νέω, meaning "spin", and σχοῖνος, meaning "reed" They have a mostly pantropical distribution and one species, Neoscona adianta, has a palearctic distribution. As of April 2019 there are eight species that can be found in the United States and Canada:
Theridion is a genus of tangle-web spiders with a worldwide distribution. Notable species are the Hawaiian happy face spider (T. grallator), named for the iconic symbol on its abdomen, and T. nigroannulatum, one of few spider species that lives in social groups, attacking prey en masse to overwhelm them as a team.
Clubiona is a genus of sac spiders that was first described by Pierre André Latreille in 1804.
Enoplognatha is a genus of comb-footed spiders that was first described by P. Pavesi in 1880. They have both a large colulus and a subspherical abdomen. Males usually have enlarged chelicerae. It is considered a senior synonym of Symopagia.
Tetragnatha is a genus of long-jawed orb-weavers found all over the world. It was first described by Pierre André Latreille in 1804, and it contains hundreds of species. Most occur in the tropics and subtropics, and many can run over water. They are commonly called stretch spiders in reference to their elongated body form and their ability to hide on blades of grass or similar elongated substrates by stretching their front legs forward and the others behind them. The name Tetragnatha is derived from Greek, tetra- a numerical prefix referring to four and gnatha meaning "jaw". Evolution to cursorial behavior occurred long ago in a few different species, the most studied being those found on the Hawaiian islands. One of the biggest and most common species is T. extensa, which has a holarctic distribution. It can be found near lakes, river banks or swamps. Large numbers of individuals can often be found in reeds, tall grass, and around minor trees and shrubs.
Miagrammopes is a genus of cribellate orb weavers first described by Octavius Pickard-Cambridge in 1870. These spiders have a unique shape and only four of their original eight eyes. They spin a single line of web, actively watching and jerking the line to catch their prey.
Dipoena is a genus of tangle-web spiders that was first described by Tamerlan Thorell in 1869.
Phoroncidia is a genus of comb-footed spiders that was first described by J. O. Westwood in 1835.