Atypical tarantula: Difference between revisions
imported>Ingrid Krunge |
imported>Sarefo replaced map |
||
| (One intermediate revision by one other user not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|Spiders of family Atypidæ}} | {{Short description|Spiders of family Atypidæ}} | ||
{{Automatic taxobox | {{Automatic taxobox | ||
| name = Atypical tarantulas | | name = Atypical tarantulas | ||
| image = Sphodros rufines.JPG | | image = Sphodros rufines.JPG | ||
| Line 7: | Line 6: | ||
| image2 = Atypus karschi.jpg | | image2 = Atypus karschi.jpg | ||
| image2_caption = ''[[Atypus karschi]]'' | | image2_caption = ''[[Atypus karschi]]'' | ||
| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Cretaceous|present}} | |||
| taxon = Atypidae | | taxon = Atypidae | ||
| authority = [[Tamerlan Thorell|Thorell]], 1870 | | authority = [[Tamerlan Thorell|Thorell]], 1870 | ||
| subdivision_ranks = Genera | | subdivision_ranks = Genera | ||
| subdivision = {{linked genus list | | subdivision = {{linked genus list | ||
| Line 16: | Line 14: | ||
|''[[Calommata]]''|Lucas, 1837 | |''[[Calommata]]''|Lucas, 1837 | ||
|''[[Sphodros]]''|Walckenaer, 1835}} | |''[[Sphodros]]''|Walckenaer, 1835}} | ||
| range_map = Atypidae range map.svg | |||
| range_map_caption = <span style="color:blue">blue</span>: reported countries ([[World Spider Catalog|WSC]])<br/><span style="color:green">green</span>: observation hotspots ([[iNaturalist]]) | |||
| diversity = [[#Genera|3 genera]], [[List of Atypidae species|58 species]] | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Atypidae''', also known as '''atypical tarantulas''' or '''purseweb spiders''', is a spider family containing only three [[genus|genera]]. They are accomplished ambush predators that spend most of their time in a sock-like, silken retreat on the ground from where they kill their prey.<ref name="Piper 2007" | |||
'''Atypidae''', also known as '''atypical tarantulas''' or '''purseweb spiders''', is a spider family containing only three [[genus|genera]]. They are accomplished ambush predators that spend most of their time in a sock-like, silken retreat on the ground from where they kill their prey.<ref name="Piper 2007" /> | |||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
''[[Sphodros]]'' and ''[[Atypus]]'' occur in North America, while ''[[Atypus]]'' and ''[[Calommata]]'' occur in Asia and Africa. Only ''[[Atypus]]'' species are found in Europe.<ref name= | ''[[Sphodros]]'' and ''[[Atypus]]'' occur in North America, while ''[[Atypus]]'' and ''[[Calommata]]'' occur in Asia and Africa. Only ''[[Atypus]]'' species are found in Europe.<ref name=wsc /> ''[[Atypus affinis]]'', ''[[Atypus muralis]]'', and ''[[Atypus piceus]]'' are the only [[Mygalomorphae|mygalomorph]] spiders found in Central Europe. | ||
==Biology== | ==Biology== | ||
''Atypus'' builds a [[spider silk|silken]] tube parallel to the surface of the ground. While up to 8 cm of the tube lie on the ground, about 20 cm are buried vertically. The spider rests at the bottom of the tube. When prey walks on the exposed part, the spider, alerted by the vibrations, stabs the prey through the silk, cuts the web and drags the prey inside to be eaten. ''Calommata'' species, instead of building a purseweb, live in burrows.<ref name=murphy2000 | ''Atypus'' builds a [[spider silk|silken]] tube parallel to the surface of the ground. While up to 8 cm of the tube lie on the ground, about 20 cm are buried vertically. The spider rests at the bottom of the tube. When prey walks on the exposed part, the spider, alerted by the vibrations, stabs the prey through the silk, cuts the web and drags the prey inside to be eaten. ''Calommata'' species, instead of building a purseweb, live in burrows.<ref name=murphy2000 /> | ||
''Sphodros'' spp. usually prop their tubes against a tree trunk. | ''Sphodros'' spp. usually prop their tubes against a tree trunk. | ||
| Line 30: | Line 32: | ||
During the breeding season for ''A. affinis'', the male leaves his own burrow and goes in search of females. When he finds the burrow of a female, he tentatively taps on the wall of the purseweb, and if the female is receptive, he ventures into the confines of the burrow. The two spiders mate and cohabit until the male dies, when the female eats him. The female makes an egg sac and hangs it in her burrow. The next summer, the eggs hatch, and the spring after that, the spiderlings leave their mother's burrow and wander off to find a suitable place to build a lair of their own.<ref name="Piper 2007" /> | During the breeding season for ''A. affinis'', the male leaves his own burrow and goes in search of females. When he finds the burrow of a female, he tentatively taps on the wall of the purseweb, and if the female is receptive, he ventures into the confines of the burrow. The two spiders mate and cohabit until the male dies, when the female eats him. The female makes an egg sac and hangs it in her burrow. The next summer, the eggs hatch, and the spring after that, the spiderlings leave their mother's burrow and wander off to find a suitable place to build a lair of their own.<ref name="Piper 2007" /> | ||
Southeast Asian ''Atypus'' species have a body length of 7 to 21 mm in females, and about 12 mm in males. ''Calommata'' spp. of this region grow from 23 to 30 mm in females, and only about 7 mm in males.<ref name=murphy2000/> | Southeast Asian ''Atypus'' species have a body length of 7 to 21 mm in females, and about 12 mm in males. ''Calommata'' spp. of this region grow from 23 to 30 mm in females, and only about 7 mm in males.<ref name=murphy2000 /> | ||
{{clearleft}} | {{clearleft}} | ||
==Genera== | ==Genera== | ||
{{as of| | {{as of|2025|10}}, this family includes three genera:<ref name="wsc" /> | ||
{{ | {{Div col}} | ||
*''[[Atypus]]'' <small>[[Pierre André Latreille|Latreille]], 1804</small> | * ''[[Atypus]]'' <small>[[Pierre André Latreille|Latreille]], 1804</small> – [[Asia]], [[Europe]], [[North Africa]]. Introduced to [[United States]] | ||
*''[[Calommata]]'' <small>[[Hippolyte Lucas|Lucas]], 1837</small> | * ''[[Calommata]]'' <small>[[Hippolyte Lucas|Lucas]], 1837</small> – [[Africa]], Asia | ||
*''[[Sphodros]]'' <small>[[Charles | * ''[[Sphodros]]'' <small>[[Charles Walckenaer|Walckenaer]], 1835</small> – [[North America]] | ||
{{ | {{Div col end}} | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| Line 45: | Line 47: | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{Reflist}} | {{Reflist|refs= | ||
<ref name="wsc">{{cite web | url=https://wsc.nmbe.ch/family/11 | title=Family: Atypidae Thorell, 1870 | publisher=World Spider Catalog | doi=10.24436/2 | accessdate=2025-10-09}}</ref> | |||
<ref name="murphy2000">{{cite journal| last1=Murphy| first1=F.| last2=Murphy| first2=J.| year=2000| title=An introduction to the spiders of South East Asia with notes on all the genera| journal=Malaysian Nature Society Kuala Lumpur}}</ref> | |||
<ref name="Piper 2007">{{cite book| author=Piper, Ross| author-link=Ross Piper| year=2007| title=Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals| url=https://archive.org/details/extraordinaryani0000pipe| url-access=registration| publisher=[[Greenwood Press (publisher)|Greenwood Press]]| isbn=9780313339226}}</ref> | |||
}} | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
{{ | * {{inaturalist taxon}} | ||
*[http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/spidhome.htm Spiders of NW-Europe] | *[http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/Spiders/spidhome.htm Spiders of NW-Europe] | ||
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20031009004049/http://taipan.nmsu.edu/people/richman/dbr.html Richman, D. B. 2003. Some Spiders - Photograph of ''Sphodros''] | *[https://web.archive.org/web/20031009004049/http://taipan.nmsu.edu/people/richman/dbr.html Richman, D. B. 2003. Some Spiders - Photograph of ''Sphodros''] | ||
| Line 58: | Line 64: | ||
[[Category:Atypidae|Atypidae]] | [[Category:Atypidae|Atypidae]] | ||
[[Category:Mygalomorphae families]] | [[Category:Mygalomorphae families]] | ||
[[Category:Spiders described in 1870]] | |||
Latest revision as of 23:22, 21 October 2025
Template:Short description Template:Automatic taxobox
Atypidae, also known as atypical tarantulas or purseweb spiders, is a spider family containing only three genera. They are accomplished ambush predators that spend most of their time in a sock-like, silken retreat on the ground from where they kill their prey.[1]
Distribution
Sphodros and Atypus occur in North America, while Atypus and Calommata occur in Asia and Africa. Only Atypus species are found in Europe.[2] Atypus affinis, Atypus muralis, and Atypus piceus are the only mygalomorph spiders found in Central Europe.
Biology
Atypus builds a silken tube parallel to the surface of the ground. While up to 8 cm of the tube lie on the ground, about 20 cm are buried vertically. The spider rests at the bottom of the tube. When prey walks on the exposed part, the spider, alerted by the vibrations, stabs the prey through the silk, cuts the web and drags the prey inside to be eaten. Calommata species, instead of building a purseweb, live in burrows.[3] Sphodros spp. usually prop their tubes against a tree trunk.
Atypical tarantulas have huge chelicerae for their size and relatively long spinnerets (although not as long as those found in diplurids). The males are sometimes brightly colored and wander around looking for females in their tubes. The females are reddish-brown or dark-colored.
During the breeding season for A. affinis, the male leaves his own burrow and goes in search of females. When he finds the burrow of a female, he tentatively taps on the wall of the purseweb, and if the female is receptive, he ventures into the confines of the burrow. The two spiders mate and cohabit until the male dies, when the female eats him. The female makes an egg sac and hangs it in her burrow. The next summer, the eggs hatch, and the spring after that, the spiderlings leave their mother's burrow and wander off to find a suitable place to build a lair of their own.[1]
Southeast Asian Atypus species have a body length of 7 to 21 mm in females, and about 12 mm in males. Calommata spp. of this region grow from 23 to 30 mm in females, and only about 7 mm in males.[3] Template:Clearleft
Genera
since October 2025[update]Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., this family includes three genera:[2]
<templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/>
- Atypus Latreille, 1804 – Asia, Europe, North Africa. Introduced to United States
- Calommata Lucas, 1837 – Africa, Asia
- Sphodros Walckenaer, 1835 – North America
See also
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
External links
Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Taxonbar