Pirate spiders, members of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Mimetidae, are

araneomorph The Araneomorphae (also called the Labidognatha) are an infraorder of spiders. They are distinguishable by chelicerae (fangs) that point diagonally forward and cross in a pinching action, in contrast to the Mygalomorphae (tarantulas and their cl ...

spider Spiders (order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species d ...

s which typically feed on other spiders. The

Mimetidae contains roughly 200

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of ...

divided among 12

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial ...

, of which ''

Mimetus ''Mimetus'' is a genus of pirate spiders in the family Mimetidae. They are found worldwide. Description Members of this genus resemble the comb-footed spiders, Theridiidae, due to their globular abdomen. The upper side of this bears curved brist ...

'' and ''

Ero ''Ero'' is a genus of pirate spiders first described in 1836. They resemble comb-footed spiders due to their globular abdomen, which is higher than it is long. Description The upper side of their abdomen bears one or two pairs of conical t ...

'' are the most common. Mimetids are usually yellow and brown and are usually long. Mimetids can be recognized by the rows of spine-like hairs on their long front legs; the rows consist of a long spine, followed by a series of progressively shorter ones. Pirate spider (Mimetidae sp

Mimetidae usually hunt by picking at the strands on their prey's web to simulate the movements of either a trapped insect or a potential mate. When their prey comes to investigate, they are instead captured and eaten. Some mimetids have been observed to feed on insects as well. The spider-feeding habit presents problems in mating, and little is known about how the males court females to avoid being eaten. However, some male mimetids in the genus ''Gelanor'', found in South America, have enormously long appendages which they use to inseminate females.

Distribution

Pirate spiders are found in forests all around the globe, wherein the highest diversity is found in Central and Tropical South America.

Taxonomy

The Mimetidae are sometimes taxonomically grouped in the superfamilies

Araneoidea Araneoidea is a taxon of araneomorph spiders, termed "araneoids", treated as a superfamily. As with many such groups, its circumscription has varied; in particular some families that had at one time moved to the Palpimanoidea have more recently b ...

Palpimanoidea The Palpimanoidea or palpimanoids, also known as assassin spiders, are a group of araneomorph spiders, originally treated as a superfamily. As with many such groups, its circumscription has varied. , the following five families were included: * ...

Genera

The categorization into subfamilies follows Joel Hallan'
Biology Catalog
* Gelaninae Simon, 1881 :* ''

Arochoides ''Arochoides'' is a genus of spiders in the family Mimetidae Pirate spiders, members of the family Mimetidae, are araneomorph spiders which typically feed on other spiders. The family Mimetidae contains roughly 200 species divided among 12 ...

'' Mello-Leitão, 1935 (Brazil) :* ''

Gelanor In Greek mythology, King Gelanor ( grc, Γελάνωρ) of Argos, was the son and successor of Sthenelus. His real name was possibly Pelasgus, as Robert Graves has proposed that the name "Gelanor" is a literary device meaning 'laughter': he was s ...

'' Thorell, 1869 (Central and South America) * Melaenosiinae :* ''

Kratochvilia ''Kratochvilia'' is a genus of spiders in the family Mimetidae. It was first described in 1934 by Strand. , it contains only one species, ''Kratochvilia pulvinata'', found on Príncipe Príncipe is the smaller, northern major island of the c ...

Strand Strand may refer to: Topography *The flat area of land bordering a body of water, a: ** Beach ** Shoreline * Strand swamp, a type of swamp habitat in Florida Places Africa *Strand, Western Cape, a seaside town in South Africa *Strand Street, ...

, 1934 ( Principe) :* ''

Melaenosia ''Melaenosia'' is a genus of spiders in the family Mimetidae Pirate spiders, members of the family Mimetidae, are araneomorph spiders which typically feed on other spiders. The family Mimetidae contains roughly 200 species divided among 12 ...

'' Simon, 1906 (India) * Mimetinae Simon, 1881 :* ''

Arocha ''Arocha'' is a genus of spiders in the family Mimetidae Pirate spiders, members of the family Mimetidae, are araneomorph spiders which typically feed on other spiders. The family Mimetidae contains roughly 200 species divided among 12 gen ...

'' Simon, 1893 (Peru, Brazil) :* ''

Australomimetus ''Australomimetus'' is a genus of spiders in the family Mimetidae. It was first described in 1986 by Heimer. , it contains 31 species. Species ''Australomimetus'' comprises the following species: *''Australomimetus annulipes'' Heimer, 1986 *''Au ...

'' Heimer, 1986 (Australia) :* ''

C. L. Koch Carl Ludwig Koch (21 September 1778 – 23 August 1857) was a German entomologist and arachnologist. He was responsible for classifying a great number of spiders, including the Brazilian whiteknee tarantula and common house spider. He was born ...

, 1836 (Palearctic, Africa, South America, USA, Asia, Australia) :* ''

'' Hentz, 1832 (worldwide) :* ''

Phobetinus ''Mimetus'' is a genus of pirate spiders in the family Mimetidae. They are found worldwide. Description Members of this genus resemble the comb-footed spiders, Theridiidae, due to their globular abdomen. The upper side of this bears curved bri ...

'' Simon, 1895 (Vietnam, Sri Lanka) :* '' Reo'' Brignoli, 1979 (USA, Kenya) * Oarcinae Simon, 1890 :* ''

Gnolus ''Gnolus'' is a genus of South American orb-weaver spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1879. Originally placed with the orb-weaving spiders, it was transferred to the pirate spiders in 1993, but moved back to orb-weaver fam ...

'' Simon, 1879 (South America) :* ''

Oarces ''Oarces'' is a spider genus in the family Araneidae. It is the sister genus of ''Gnolus''. ''Gnolus ''Gnolus'' is a genus of South American orb-weaver spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1879. Originally placed with the ...

'' Simon, 1879 (South America)

References

* Platnick, N.I. & Shabad, M.U. (1993). A review of the pirate spiders (Aranae, Mimetidae) of Chile. ''American Museum Novitates'' 3074
Abstract

PDF (12Mb)
(with color pictures of ''O. reticulatus'' male and female, ''G. cordiformis'' m/f, ''G. blinkeni'' f, ''G. zonulatus'' f, ''G. spiculator'' f, ''H. collusor'' f; new description of ''G. blinkeni'')

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q10642 *

Distribution

Taxonomy

Genera

See also

References

External links