Cyrtophora

Tent-web spider
Green tent spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Araneidae
Subfamily: Cyrtophorinae
Genus: Cyrtophora
Simon, 1864
Species

See text

Diversity
38 species

Cyrtophora, the tent-web spiders, although technically orb-web spiders (family Araneidae), do not build orb webs. Their tent-like, highly complex non-sticky web is sometimes considered a precursor of the simplified orb web. These webs are aligned horizontally, with a network of supporting threads above them. These spiders often live in colonies. Females have a body length of mostly about 10 mm.

A tent-web spider (Cyrtophora moluccensis) suspended beneath its web

Some members (e.g. Cyrtophora cicatrosa) exhibit the ability to change colour rapidly.[1]

A kleptoparasitic spider (Argyrodes fissifrons) was found to live in a mutualistic relationships with Cyrtophora species.[2]

Species

References

  1. "Spider Ecology". Earth-Life Web Productions.
  2. Peng, P; Blamires, SJ; Agnarsson, I; Lin, HC; Tso, IM (2013). "A color-mediated mutualism between two arthropod predators.". Curr. Biol. 23: 172–6. PMID 23260470. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2012.11.057.
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