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| image = Sphodros rufines.JPG
| image = Sphodros rufines.JPG
| image_caption = ''[[Sphodros rufipes]]''
| image_caption = ''[[Sphodros rufipes]]''
| image2 = Atypus karschi.jpg
| image2_caption = ''[[Atypus karschi]]''
| taxon = Atypidae
| taxon = Atypidae
| authority = [[Tord Tamerlan Teodor Thorell|Thorell]], 1870
| authority = [[Tamerlan Thorell|Thorell]], 1870
| diversity_link = List of Atypidae species
| diversity = 3 genera, 43 species
| range_map = Distribution.atypidae.1.png
| range_map = Distribution.atypidae.1.png
| diversity = [[#Genera|3 genera]], [[List of Atypidae species|58 species]]
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision =
| subdivision = {{linked genus list
''[[Atypus]]''<br />
|''[[Atypus]]''|Latreille, 1804
''[[Calommata]]''<br />
|''[[Calommata]]''|Lucas, 1837
''[[Sphodros]]''
|''[[Sphodros]]''|Walckenaer, 1835}}
}}
}}
'''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=[[Ross Piper|Piper, Ross]]| year=2007| title=Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals| publisher=[[Greenwood Press (publisher)|Greenwood Press]]}}</ref>

The '''atypical tarantulas''' or '''purseweb spiders''' (family '''Atypidae''') consist of only three [[genus|genera]]. Purseweb spiders 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">[[Ross Piper|Piper, Ross]] (2007), ''Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals'', [[Greenwood Press (publisher)|Greenwood Press]].</ref>


==Distribution==
==Distribution==
In North America, ''Sphodros'' and ''Atypus'' occur, in Asia and Africa are ''Atypus'' and ''Calommata'', and only ''Atypus'' spp. are found in Europe.<ref>Platnick 2008</ref>
''[[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.

''Atypus affinis'', ''A. muralis''. and ''A. piceus'' are the only species of this family found in, as well as the only [[Mygalomorphae|mygalomorph]] spiders of northwestern 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>
[[Image:Atypus karschi.jpg|thumb|300px|left|''[[Atypus karschi]]'']]
''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>Murphy & Murphy 2000</ref>
''Sphodros'' spp. usually prop their tubes against a tree trunk.
''Sphodros'' spp. usually prop their tubes against a tree trunk.


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==Genera==
==Genera==
{{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| accessdate=2019-04-19| publisher=Natural History Museum Bern| url=http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/family/11}}</ref>
* ''[[Atypus]]'' <small>[[Pierre André Latreille|Latreille]], 1804</small> — Britain to Ukraine, Asia, North Africa, USA (29 species)
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* ''[[Calommata]]'' <small>[[Hippolyte Lucas|Lucas]], 1837</small> — Asia, Africa (7 species)
* ''[[Sphodros]]'' <small>[[Charles Athanase Walckenaer|Walckenaer]], 1835</small> — USA, Mexico (7 species)
*''[[Atypus]]'' <small>[[Pierre André Latreille|Latreille]], 1804</small> — Britain to Ukraine, Asia, North Africa, United States
*''[[Calommata]]'' <small>[[Hippolyte Lucas|Lucas]], 1837</small> — Asia, South Africa
*''[[Sphodros]]'' <small>[[Charles Athanase Walckenaer|Walckenaer]], 1835</small> — North America
{{div col end}}


==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of Atypidae species]]
* [[List of Atypidae species]]
* [[Spider families]]


==Footnotes==
==Footnotes==
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==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
* {{aut|Platnick, Norman I.}} (2008): [http://research.amnh.org/entomology/spiders/catalog/index.html The world spider catalog], version 8.5. ''American Museum of Natural History''.


==External links==
==External links==
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{{Taxonbar|from=Q5895}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q5895}}


[[Category:Atypidae]]
[[Category:Atypidae|Atypidae]]
[[Category:Spiders of Asia]]
[[Category:Mygalomorphae families]]
[[Category:Spiders of North America]]

Revision as of 19:06, 19 April 2019

Atypical tarantulas
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

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 northwestern 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 purse web, 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 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.[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

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

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Piper, Ross (2007). Extraordinary Animals: An Encyclopedia of Curious and Unusual Animals. Greenwood Press.
  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.

References