Dwarf sheet spider explained
Dwarf sheet spiders (Hahniidae) is a family of araneomorph spiders, first described by Philipp Bertkau in 1878.[1] Their bodies are about long, and they build extremely delicate webs in the form of a sheet. Unlike many spiders the web does not lead to a retreat. The silk used in these webs is so fine that they are difficult to spot unless they are coated with dew. They greatly favor locations near water or near moss, and are often found in leaf litter and detritus or on the leaves of shrubs and trees.[2]
Description
They are characterized by the arrangement of their six spinnerets in a transverse row. The last segment of the outer spinnerets is quite long and stands out above all the others.[2]
Distribution
Hahniidae are a worldwide family. The genera of the Northern Hemisphere and Africa tend to differ in their genital structures from those of the Southern Hemisphere. Very few species have been described from southeast Asia, although quite a number seems to be yet undescribed.[2]
Name
The family is named after the type genus Hahnia, which is dedicated to German zoologist Carl Wilhelm Hahn.
Genera
See main article: List of Hahniidae species., the World Spider Catalog accepts the following genera:[3]
- Alistra Thorell, 1894 — Oceania, Asia
- Amaloxenops Schiapelli & Gerschman, 1958 — Argentina
- Antistea Simon, 1898 — North America, Asia
- Asiohahnia Ovtchinnikov, 1992 — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China
- Austrohahnia Mello-Leitão, 1942 — Argentina
- Chorizomma Simon, 1872 — Spain, France
- Cicurina Menge, 1871 — North America, Asia
- Cybaeolus Simon, 1884 — Chile, Argentina
- Hahnia C. L. Koch, 1841 — Africa, Asia, North America, Central America, Europe, South America
- Hahniharmia Wunderlich, 2004 — Europe
- Harmiella Brignoli, 1979 — Brazil
- Iberina Simon, 1881 — Asia, Europe
- Intihuatana Lehtinen, 1967 — Argentina
- Kapanga Forster, 1970 — New Zealand
- Lizarba Roth, 1967 — Brazil
- Mastigusa Menge, 1854 — France, Hungary
- Neoantistea Gertsch, 1934 — North America, Asia, Costa Rica
- Neoaviola Butler, 1929 — Australia
- Neohahnia Mello-Leitão, 1917 — South America, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Pacifantistea Marusik, 2011 — Russia, Japan
- Porioides Forster, 1989 — New Zealand
- Rinawa Forster, 1970 — New Zealand
- Scotospilus Simon, 1886 — Australia, New Zealand, India
See also
Notes and References
- Bertkau. P.. 1878. Versuch einer natürlichen Anordnung der Spinnen, nebst Bemerkungen zu einzelnen Gattungen. Archiv für Naturgeschichte. 44. 351–410.
- Book: Murphy. Frances. Murphy. John. 2000. An Introduction to the Spiders of South East Asia. Malaysian Nature Society Kuala Lumpur.
- Web site: Family: Hahniidae Bertkau, 1878. World Spider Catalog. 2019-04-20. Natural History Museum Bern.
