Leptonetidae Explained

Leptonetidae is a family of small spiders adapted to live in dark and moist places such as caves.^[1] The family is relatively primitive having diverged around the Middle Jurassic period.^[2] They were first described by Eugène Simon in 1890.^[3]

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. ^[4]

Notes and References

1. Book: Spiders of the world : a natural history . 2020 . Norman I. Platnick, Gustavo Hormiga, Peter, Jäger, R. Jocqué, Martín J. Ramírez, Robert J. Raven . 978-0-691-20498-7 . Princeton, NJ . 1223249471.
2. Ledford . Joel . Derkarabetian . Shahan . Ribera . Carles . Starrett . James . Bond . Jason E. . Griswold . Charles . Hedin . Marshal . 2021-03-24 . Phylogenomics and biogeography of leptonetid spiders (Araneae : Leptonetidae) . Invertebrate Systematics . en . 35 . 3 . 332–349 . 10.1071/IS20065 . 1447-2600. free .
3. Book: Simon, E.. 1890. Etudes arachnologiques.
4. Web site: Family: Leptonetidae Simon, 1890. World Spider Catalog. 2022-04-05. Natural History Museum Bern.
5. Web site: Family: Archoleptonetidae Gertsch, 1974 . World Spider Catalog . 2022-04-05 . Natural History Museum Bern .
6. Bradley, Richard A., 'FAMILY LEPTONETIDAE • Midget Cave Spiders', Common Spiders of North America (Oakland, CA, 2012; online edn, California Scholarship Online, 23 May 2013), https://doi.org/10.1525/california/9780520274884.003.0032, accessed 27 Apr. 2023.

   Habitat

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

   Genera

   See main article: List of Leptonetidae species., the World Spider Catalog accepted the following genera:^[4]

   • Appaleptoneta Platnick, 1986 — United States
   • Barusia Kratochvíl, 1978 — Montenegro, Croatia, Greece
   • Calileptoneta Platnick, 1986 — United States
   • Cataleptoneta Denis, 1955 — Asia, Europe
   • Chisoneta Ledford & Griswold, 2011 — United States, Mexico
   • Falcileptoneta Komatsu, 1970 — Japan, Korea
   • Jingneta Wang & Li, 2020
   • Leptoneta Simon, 1872 — Europe, Asia, Algeria
   • Leptonetela Kratochvíl, 1978 — Greece, Asia
   • Longileptoneta Seo, 2015 — Korea
   • Masirana Kishida, 1942 — Japan, Korea
   • Montanineta Ledford & Griswold, 2011 — United States
   • Neoleptoneta Brignoli, 1972 — Mexico
   • Ozarkia Ledford & Griswold, 2011 — United States
   • Paraleptoneta Fage, 1913 — Algeria, Italy
   • Protoleptoneta Deltshev, 1972 — Europe
   • Rhyssoleptoneta Tong & Li, 2007 — China
   • Sulcia Kratochvíl, 1938 — Europe
   • Tayshaneta Ledford & Griswold, 2011 — United States
   • Teloleptoneta Ribera, 1988 — Portugal
   • Yueleptoneta Tong, 2022

   Two genera have been moved to the family Archoleptonetidae:^[5]

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

   See also

   • List of Leptonetidae species

   Further reading

   • Gertsch, W.J. (1978). The spider family Leptonetidae in North America. Journal of Arachnology 1:145-203. 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. PDF

   External links

   • Arachnology Home Pages: Araneae
   • Platnick, N.I. 2003. World Spider Catalog

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