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|''[[Sphodros]]''|Walckenaer, 1835}}
|''[[Sphodros]]''|Walckenaer, 1835}}
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'''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">{{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]]}}</ref>357y353577
'''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">{{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>


==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=NMBE /> ''[[Atypus affinis]]'', ''[[Atypus muralis]]'', and ''[[Atypus piceus]]'' are the only [[Mygalomorphae|mygalomorph]] spiders found in northwestern Europe.
''[[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=NMBE /> ''[[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&nbsp;cm of the tube lie on the ground, about 20&nbsp;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 purse web, live in burrows.<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>
''Atypus'' builds a [[spider silk|silken]] tube parallel to the surface of the ground. While up to 8&nbsp;cm of the tube lie on the ground, about 20&nbsp;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>{{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>
''Sphodros'' spp. usually prop their tubes against a tree trunk.
''Sphodros'' spp. usually prop their tubes against a tree trunk.


Atypical tarantulas have huge [[chelicerae]] for their size and relatively long [[spinneret (spider)|spinnerets]] (although not as long as those found in [[Dipluridae|diplurids]]). The males are sometimes brightly colored and wander around looking for females in their tubes. The females are reddish-brown or dark-colored.
Atypical tarantulas have huge [[chelicerae]] for their size and relatively long [[spinneret (spider)|spinnerets]] (although not as long as those found in [[Dipluridae|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 purse web, 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&nbsp;mm in females, and about 12&nbsp;mm in males. ''Calommata'' spp. of this region grow from 23 to 30&nbsp;mm in females, and only about 7&nbsp;mm in males.<ref name=murphy2000/>
Southeast Asian ''Atypus'' species have a body length of 7 to 21&nbsp;mm in females, and about 12&nbsp;mm in males. ''Calommata'' spp. of this region grow from 23 to 30&nbsp;mm in females, and only about 7&nbsp;mm in males.<ref name=murphy2000/>
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==Genera==
gonera

{{as of|2019|04}}, the [[World Spider Catalog]] accepts the following genera:<ref name=NMBE>{{cite web| title=Family: Atypidae Thorell, 1870| website=World Spider Catalog| access-date=2019-04-19| publisher=Natural History Museum Bern| url=http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/family/11}}</ref>
{{as of|2019|04}}, the [[World Spider Catalog]] accepts the following genera:<ref name=NMBE>{{cite web| title=Family: Atypidae Thorell, 1870| website=World Spider Catalog| access-date=2019-04-19| publisher=Natural History Museum Bern| url=http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/family/11}}</ref>
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Latest revision as of 18:58, 8 October 2024

Atypical tarantulas
Temporal range: Cretaceous–present
Sphodros rufipes
Atypus karschi
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Clade: Atypoidea
Family: Atypidae
Thorell, 1870
Genera
Diversity
3 genera, 58 species

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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]

Genera

[edit]

As of April 2019, the World Spider Catalog accepts the following genera:[2]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Piper, Ross (2007). Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals. Greenwood Press. ISBN 9780313339226.
  2. ^ a b "Family: Atypidae Thorell, 1870". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
  3. ^ a b Murphy, F.; Murphy, J. (2000). "An introduction to the spiders of South East Asia with notes on all the genera". Malaysian Nature Society Kuala Lumpur.
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