| Pisaura | |
|---|---|
 | |
| P. mirabilis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Pisauridae |
| Genus: | Pisaura Simon, 1886 [1] |
| Species | |
See text. | |
| Diversity | |
| 13 species | |
Pisaura is a genus of Eurasian spiders in the family Pisauridae. [1]
Pisaura (at least the European species) vary in colouration from yellow and bright brown to mostly red-brown and grey or black. A distinct, bright stripe runs down the middle of the prosoma. The opisthosoma is long, slender and tapering posteriorly. On the dorsal surface of the opisthosoma is a wide, jagged stripe with dark margins. The posterior cheliceral furrow margin has two or three teeth. [2]
Spiders of this genus are hunters on the ground or on vegetation. [3]
The genus name Pisaura was first published by Eugène Simon in 1886. [1] [4] In 1757, Carl Alexander Clerck had described a species of spider under the name Araneus mirabilis; later authors placed the species either in Dolomedes or more usually in Ocyale . Simon stated that the type species of Ocyale was entirely different from "Ocyale mirabilis", so placed the species in a new genus as Pisaura mirabilis . [4] [5] In the same publication, Simon also described Pisaura valida, [4] later placed in Afropisaura as Afropisaura valida . [6]
As of September 2025 [update] , the World Spider Catalog accepted the following species: [1]
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