Plectophanes
{{Short description|Genus of spiders}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = Plectophanes sp.jpg
| image_caption = Plectophanes sp.
| taxon = Plectophanes
| type_species = P. frontalis
| type_species_authority = Bryant, 1935
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = 5, see text
}}
Plectophanes is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the family Cycloctenidae, and was first described by E. B. Bryant in 1935.{{cite journal| last=Bryant| first=E. B.| year=1935| title=Some new and little known species of New Zealand spiders.| journal=Records of the Canterbury Museum| pages=71–94| volume=4}} The eyes are positioned on an extension of the carapace that projects forward of the chelicerae.{{Cite journal |last=Forster |first=Raymond Robert |last2=Blest |first2=A. David |date=1979-01-01 |title=The Spiders of New Zealand Part V: Cycloctenidae, Gnaphosidae, Clubionidae, Linyphiidae-Mynoglenidae |url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113167425 |journal=Otago Museum bulletin |volume=5 |pages=1–173}}
Description
These spiders are distinguished from other cycloctenids by the positioning of the eyes on an extension of the carapace that projects forward of the chelicerae.
Species
{{as of|2019|05}} it contains five species, all found in New Zealand:{{cite journal| title=Gen. Plectophanes Bryant, 1935| website=World Spider Catalog Version 20.0| access-date=2019-05-31| year=2019| publisher=Natural History Museum Bern| url=http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/genus/692| doi=10.24436/2}}
- Plectophanes altus Forster, 1964 – New Zealand
- Plectophanes archeyi Forster, 1964 – New Zealand
- Plectophanes frontalis Bryant, 1935 (type) – New Zealand
- Plectophanes hollowayae Forster, 1964 – New Zealand
- Plectophanes pilgrimi Forster, 1964 – New Zealand
Biology
Members of this genus are noted for living in holes in trees and branches. Their unusual eye arrangement allows them to observe approaching prey while the rest of the body remains concealed.{{Cite book |last=Forster |first=Raymond Robert |url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124611542 |title=Spiders of New Zealand and their Worldwide Kin |last2=Forster |first2=Lyndsay McLaren |date=1999-01-01 |publisher=Otago University Press, Otago Museum}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q1807807}}
Category:Endemic spiders of New Zealand
{{Cycloctenidae-stub}}