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Leptonetidae

{{short description|Family of spiders}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Cretaceous|present}}

| name = Leptonetids

| image = Tayshaneta anopica.jpg

| image_caption = Tayshaneta anopica

| taxon = Leptonetidae

| authority = Simon, 1890

| range_map = Distribution.leptonetidae.1.png

| range_map_upright = 1.1

| diversity = 21 genera, 365 species

}}

Leptonetidae is a family of small spiders adapted to live in dark and moist places such as caves.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1223249471 |title=Spiders of the world : a natural history |date=2020 |others=Norman I. Platnick, Gustavo Hormiga, Peter, Jäger, R. Jocqué, Martín J. Ramírez, Robert J. Raven |isbn=978-0-691-20498-7 |location=Princeton, NJ |oclc=1223249471}} The family is relatively primitive having diverged around the Middle Jurassic period.{{Cite journal |last=Ledford |first=Joel |last2=Derkarabetian |first2=Shahan |last3=Ribera |first3=Carles |last4=Starrett |first4=James |last5=Bond |first5=Jason E. |last6=Griswold |first6=Charles |last7=Hedin |first7=Marshal |date=2021-03-24 |title=Phylogenomics and biogeography of leptonetid spiders (Araneae : Leptonetidae) |url=https://www.publish.csiro.au/is/IS20065 |journal=Invertebrate Systematics |language=en |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages=332–349 |doi=10.1071/IS20065 |issn=1447-2600|doi-access=free }} They were first described by Eugène Simon in 1890.{{cite book| last=Simon| first=E.| year=1890| title=Etudes arachnologiques}}

Distinguishing characteristics

Leptonetids are small, with most falling between 2 and 5mm in total length. They are generally pale in color and feature a greenish or bluish shine due to microscopic texture on the cuticle of their exoskeleton. Those species which have retained their eyes, have 6 eyes set in a distinctive pattern, with posterior pair set back from the others. If a spider from this family looses a leg, it usually separates between the patella and tibia rather than at the coxa/trochanter joint. {{cite book | chapter-url=https://doi.org/10.1525/california/9780520274884.003.0032 | doi=10.1525/california/9780520274884.003.0032 | chapter=FAMILY LEPTONETIDAE • Midget Cave Spiders | title=Common Spiders of North America | date=2012 | last1=Bradley | first1=Richard A. | page=137 | isbn=978-0-520-27488-4 }}

Habitat

Many live in caves or in leaf litter around the Mediterranean, and in Eurasia, Japan and southern North America.

Genera

{{main|List of Leptonetidae species}}

{{as of|2022|04}}, the World Spider Catalog accepted the following genera:{{cite web| title=Family: Leptonetidae Simon, 1890| website=World Spider Catalog| access-date=2022-04-05| publisher=Natural History Museum Bern| url=http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/family/47}}

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Two genera have been moved to the family Archoleptonetidae:{{cite web |title=Family: Archoleptonetidae Gertsch, 1974 |website=World Spider Catalog |access-date=2022-04-05 |publisher=Natural History Museum Bern |url=http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/family/143}}

  • Archoleptoneta Gertsch, 1974 — United States
  • Darkoneta Ledford & Griswold, 2010 — North America, Central America

See also

References

{{reflist}}

Further reading

  • Gertsch, W.J. (1978). The spider family Leptonetidae in North America. Journal of Arachnology 1:145-203. [http://www.americanarachnology.org/JoA_free/JoA_v1_n3/JoA_v1_p145.pdf PDF]
  • Platnick, N.I. (1986). On the tibial and patellar glands, relationships, and American genera of the spider family Leptonetidae (Arachnida, Araneae). American Museum Novitates 2855. [http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/bitstream/2246/5198/1/N2855.pdf PDF]

External links

  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20031208183121/http://www.arachnology.org/Arachnology/Pages/Araneae.html Arachnology Home Pages: Araneae]
  • [http://research.amnh.org/entomology/spiders/catalog81-87/index.html Platnick, N.I. 2003. World Spider Catalog]

{{Araneae}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q10587}}

Category:Araneomorphae families

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