Plectophanes

Plectophanes
Plectophanes sp.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Cycloctenidae
Genus:	Plectophanes Bryant, 1935 [1]
Type species
P. frontalis Bryant, 1935
Species
5, see text

Plectophanes is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the family Cycloctenidae, and was first described by E. B. Bryant in 1935. ^[2] The eyes are positioned on an extension of the carapace that projects forward of the chelicerae. ^[3]

Description

These spiders are distinguished from other cycloctenids by the positioning of the eyes on an extension of the carapace that projects forward of the chelicerae.

Species

As of May 2019 ^[update] it contains five species, all found in New Zealand: ^[1]

• Plectophanes altus Forster, 1964 – New Zealand
• Plectophanes archeyi Forster, 1964 – New Zealand
• Plectophanes frontalis Bryant, 1935 (type) – New Zealand
• Plectophanes hollowayae Forster, 1964 – New Zealand
• Plectophanes pilgrimi Forster, 1964 – New Zealand

Biology

Members of this genus are noted for living in holes in trees and branches. Their unusual eye arrangement allows them to observe approaching prey while the rest of the body remains concealed. ^[4]

References

1. "Gen. Plectophanes Bryant, 1935". World Spider Catalog Version 20.0. Natural History Museum Bern. 2019. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 2019-05-31.
2. Bryant, E. B. (1935). "Some new and little known species of New Zealand spiders". Records of the Canterbury Museum. 4: 71–94.
3. Forster, Raymond Robert; Blest, A. David (1979-01-01). "The Spiders of New Zealand Part V: Cycloctenidae, Gnaphosidae, Clubionidae, Linyphiidae-Mynoglenidae". Otago Museum Bulletin. 5: 1–173.
4. Forster, Raymond Robert; Forster, Lyndsay McLaren (1999-01-01). Spiders of New Zealand and their Worldwide Kin. Otago University Press, Otago Museum.