| Socca | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Socca pustulosa (Walckenaer, 1841) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Araneidae |
| Subfamily: | Araneinae |
| Genus: | Socca Framenau, Castanheira & Vink, 2022 |
| Type species | |
| Socca pustulosa (Walckenaer, 1841) | |
Socca is an Australasian genus of orb-weaver spiders with known species in both Australia and New Zealand. [1] [2]
In an overview of morphological data, the genus was characterised by a diagnostic presence of five tubercles posteriorly on the abdomen, plus specific anatomical features of the male pedipalp, notably a tri-partite terminal apophysis. In mature females, the epigyne plate is about as wide as long and the scape elongate. Together, these features help differentiate Socca from other genera of orb-web spiders. [2]
Socca occur in a range of different habitats.
A few species were previously assigned to other genera, such as Araneus or Epeira. [1]