Clitaetra

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Clitaetra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Suborder: Araneomorphae
Family: Nephilidae
Genus: Clitaetra
Simon, 1889
Diversity
6 species

Species

See text

Clitaetra is the least known of the four currently recognised nephilid spider genera. It occurs in Africa, Madagascar and Sri Lanka, hinting to a Gondwanan origin. The split between Clitaetra and other nephilids may be as old as 160 million years.[1]

The smallest species (C. thisbe) reaches 3.5 mm in female length, the biggest species can be as long as one centimeter.

Contents

[edit] Name

The etymology of the genus name is unknown.[1]

[edit] Species

  • Clitaetra clathrata Simon, 1907 (West Africa)
  • Clitaetra episinoides Simon, 1889 (Comoro Is.)
  • Clitaetra irenae Kuntner, 2006 (South Africa)
  • Clitaetra perroti Simon, 1894 (Madagascar)
  • Clitaetra simoni Benoit, 1962 (Congo)
  • Clitaetra thisbe Simon, 1903 (Sri Lanka)

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Kuntner, M. 2006. Phylogenetic systematics of the Gondwanan nephilid spider lineage Clitaetrinae (Araneae, Nephilidae). Zoologica Scripta 35(1):19-62. PDF

[edit] External links