Hexathelidae

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funnel-web spiders
Temporal range: Triassic–present
Female Banded tunnelweb spider (Hexathele hochstetteri) - (2).jpg
Hexathele hochstetteri , female
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Clade: Avicularioidea
Family: Hexathelidae
Simon, 1892
Diversity
7 genera, 47 species

Hexathelidae is a family of mygalomorph spiders. [1] It is one of a number of families and genera of spiders known as funnel-web spiders. In 2018, the family was substantially reduced in size by genera being moved to three separate families: Atracidae, Macrothelidae and Porrhothelidae. Atracidae includes the most venomous species formerly placed in Hexathelidae.

Contents

Description

These spiders are medium to large in size, with body lengths ranging from 1 to 5 cm (0.5 to 2 in). The body is typically three times longer than it is wide. They are darkly colored, ranging from black to brown, with a glossy carapace covering the front part of the body. Like the related diplurid spiders, the hexathelids have generally long spinnerets.

Their moderately long posterior spinnerets and other features make the Hexathelidae appear similar to the Dipluridae, and were considered a subfamily of the latter until 1980. [1]

Like other Mygalomorphae (also called the Orthognatha, an infraorder of spiders which includes the true tarantulas), these spiders have fangs which point straight down and do not cross each other (see also Araneomorphae). They have ample venom glands that lie entirely within their chelicerae. Their chelicerae and fangs are large and powerful.

Taxonomy

A molecular phylogenetic study in 2018 showed that Hexathelidae, as then circumscribed, was not monophyletic and hence split off genera into the new families Atracidae, Macrothelidae and Porrhothelidae. The following cladogram shows the relationships found between these families (former Hexathelidae families marked with boxes). [2]

Dipluridae

Hexathelidae

Porrhothelidae

Macrothelidae

Atracidae

Actinopodidae

Calisoga (Nemesiidae)

Hebestatis (Halonoproctidae)

Genera

As of April 2019, the World Spider Catalog accepts the following genera: [3]

Formerly placed here

As of May 2018, some genera formerly placed in Hexathelidae have been moved to other families:

Distribution and habitat

Five of the seven genera are found in Australia and New Zealand. Two genera are from Argentina and Chile in South America. [7]

Hexathelids typically live in burrows, which are constructed in the ground or in tree hollows. An elaborately constructed burrow entrance is common. These spiders construct a funnel-shaped web and lurk for prey in the small end of the funnel. They frequently search for a place to nest under human dwellings, or under nearby rocks, logs, or other similar objects. They are most active at night. Some build in rain forests, both in the soil and in hollows on trees; others build entirely in sand, e.g., Fraser Island, southeastern Queensland. In Australia, these spiders tend to prefer cooler climates, hence they are found primarily in rain forests. [8]

See also

Related Research Articles

Mygalomorphae Infraorder of arachnids (spiders)

The Mygalomorphae, or mygalomorphs, are an infraorder of spiders. The name is derived from the Greek mygalē, meaning "shrew", plus morphē meaning form or shape. An older name for the group is Orthognatha, derived from the orientation of the fangs which point straight down and do not cross each other. In 1802, Charles Athanase Walckenaer separated mygalomorph spiders into a separate genus, Mygale, leaving all other spiders in Aranea.

Dipluridae Family of spiders

The family Dipluridae, known as curtain-web spiders are a group of spiders in the infraorder Mygalomorphae, that have two pairs of booklungs, and chelicerae (fangs) that move up and down in a stabbing motion. A number of genera, including that of the Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax), used to be classified in this family but have now been moved to Hexathelidae.

Australian funnel-web spider Family of mygalomorph spiders

Atracidae is a family of mygalomorph spiders, commonly known as Australian funnel-web spiders or atracids. It has been included as a subfamily of the Hexathelidae, but is now recognized as a separate family. All members of the family are native to Australia. Atracidae consists of three genera: Atrax, Hadronyche, and Illawarra, comprising 35 species. Some members of the family produce venom that is dangerous to humans, and bites by spiders of six of the species have caused severe injuries to victims. The bite of the Sydney funnel-web spider and northern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider are potentially deadly, but no fatalities have occurred since the introduction of modern first-aid techniques and antivenom.

Funnel-web spider index of animals with the same common name

Funnel-web spider refers to many different species of spider, particularly those that spin a web in the shape of a funnel:

<i>Atrax</i> Genus of spiders

Atrax is a genus of venomous Australian funnel web spiders that was first described by O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1877 from the type species Atrax robustus. As of May 2019 it contains only three species: A. robustus, A. sutherlandi, and A. yorkmainorum. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980, then to the Australian funnel-web spiders in 2018.

<i>Hadronyche</i> Genus of spiders

Hadronyche is a genus of venomous Australian funnel-web spiders that was first described by L. Koch in 1873. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980, then to the Australian funnel-web spiders in 2018.

Idiopidae Family of spiders

Idiopidae, also known as armored trapdoor spiders, is a family of mygalomorph spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1889. They have a large body similar to tarantulas.

Nemesiidae Family of spiders

Nemesiidae, also known as funnel-web trapdoor spiders, is a family of mygalomorph spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1889, and raised to family status in 1985. Before becoming its own family, it was considered part of "Dipluridae".

<i>Macrothele</i> Genus of spiders

Macrothele is a genus of mygalomorph spiders in the family Macrothelidae, and was first described by A. Ausserer in 1871. It is the only genus in the family Macrothelidae, and most species occur in Asia, from India to Japan, and Java, with four found in Africa, and two in Europe. The name is derived from Ancient Greek μακρός ("makro-"), meaning "big", and θηλή ("thele"), referring to the spinnerets.

<i>Stanwellia</i> Genus of spiders

Stanwellia is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the family Pycnothelidae. It was first described by W. J. Rainbow & R. H. Pulleine in 1918. Originally placed with the curtain-web spiders, it was transferred to the funnel-web trapdoor spiders in 1985, then to the Pycnothelidae in 2020. It is a senior synonym of Aparua.

<i>Porrhothele</i> Genus of spiders

Porrhothele is a genus of mygalomorph spiders endemic to New Zealand. They are the only members of the family Porrhothelidae. They were first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1892. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980, they were placed in their own family in 2018.

Plesiothele is a monotypic genus of Australian funnel-web spiders containing the single species, Plesiothele fentoni. It was first described by Robert John Raven in 1978, and has only been found in Australia. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980.

Euctenizidae Family of spiders

The Euctenizidae are a family of mygalomorph spiders. They are now considered to be more closely related to Idiopidae.

<i>Hexathele</i> Genus of spiders

Hexathele is a genus of funnel-web spiders endemic to New Zealand that was first described by Anton Ausserer in 1871, though most others have been described by Raymond Robert Forster. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980.

Scotinoecus is a genus of South American funnel-web spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1892. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980.

Teranodes is a genus of Australian funnel-web spiders that was first described by Robert John Raven in 1985. As of May 2019 it contains only two species: T. montanus and T. otwayensis. It was originally given the name "Terania", but it was later changed to "Teranodes" when it was discovered that the name was already in use for a genus of beetles.

Entypesa is a genus of African mygalomorph spiders in the family Entypesidae. It was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1902. Originally placed with the curtain-web spiders, it was transferred to the funnel-web trapdoor spiders in 1985, then to the Entypesidae in 2020. It is a senior synonym of Pseudohermacha.

Avicularioidea

Avicularioidea is a clade of mygalomorph spiders, one of the two main clades into which mygalomorphs are divided. It has been treated at the rank of superfamily.

Hadronyche annachristiae is a species in the spider genus Hadronyche, which are common in Australia. Hadronyche is a genus of the family Atracidae.

Euagridae is a family of mygalomorph spiders. The group was first described as a tribe in 1979 by Robert Raven, who in 1985 elevated it to a subfamily. In 2020, Optova et al. elevated it further to a family.

References

  1. 1 2 Raven, R.J. (1980), "The evolution and biogeography of the mygalomorph spider family Hexathelidae (Araneae, Chelicerata)", Journal of Arachnology, 8: 251–266
  2. Hedin, M.; Derkarabetian, S.; Ramírez, M.J.; Vink, C. & Bond, J.E. (2018), "Phylogenomic reclassification of the world's most venomous spiders (Mygalomorphae, Atracinae), with implications for venom evolution", Scientific Reports, 8 (1636): 1636, Bibcode:2018NatSR...8.1636H, doi:10.1038/s41598-018-19946-2, PMC   5785998 , PMID   29374214
  3. "Family: Hexathelidae Simon, 1892". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  4. "Family Atracidae Hogg,1901", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2018-05-15
  5. "Family Macrothelidae Simon, 1892", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2018-05-15
  6. "Family Porrhothelidae Hedin, Derkarabetian, Ramírez, Vink & Bond, 2018", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2018-05-15
  7. "Family: Hexathelidae Simon, 1892", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2018-05-25
  8. Gray, M.R. (1987), "Distribution of the funnel web spiders", in Covacevich, J.; Davie, P.; Pearn, J. (eds.), Toxic plants and animals: A guide for Australia, Brisbane: Queensland Museum, pp. 312–321

Further reading