Eusparassus is a genus of huntsman spiders, known as the stone huntsman spiders,[3] it was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1903.[4]

Eusparassus
Temporal range: Palaeogene– Present
Eusparassus dufouri
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Sparassidae
Genus: Eusparassus
Simon, 1903[1]
Type species
E. dufouri
Simon, 1932
Species

33, see text

Synonyms[1]

Description edit

They are medium to large huntsman spiders, their bodies measuring from 10mm to 30mm. Their eyes are arranged in two rows, the anterior one being slightly recurved, while the posterior ones are relatively straight. They are pale gray to dark brown spiders, with a uniform coloration in their body. Some may have a clearly patterned body with banded legs.[5]

Identification edit

They can be identified by the presence of two pairs of tibial spines on the legs and distinguished from the Olios genus by the palpal bulb morphology.[3]

Habitat edit

They are commonly found in arid and semiarid deserts of Africa and most parts of Eurasia where they inhabit stony habitats and build retreats in crevices. They are one of the most visible arachnid predators in their habitats. They can be found in very high elevations from 3,000 to 4,000m above sea level.[3]

Webs edit

They make silken papery webs, which are usually found in crevices or the underside of flat stones. This webs are used as protection during molts, or as a retreat during the day. Females of this species lay their egg sacs inside the retreats.[3]

Species edit

As of September 2019 it contains thirty-three species, found in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Peru:[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Gen. Eusparassus Simon, 1903". World Spider Catalog Version 20.0. Natural History Museum Bern. 2019. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2019-10-13.
  2. ^ Moradmand, M.; Jäger, P. (2012). "Eusparassus Simon, 1903 (Arachnida Araneae, Sparassidae): proposed conservation of the generic name". Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature. 69 (4): 251. doi:10.21805/bzn.v69i4.a2. S2CID 86228571.
  3. ^ a b c d Moradmand, Majid (2013). "The stone huntsman spider genus Eusparassus (Araneae: Sparassidae): Systematics and zoogeography with revision of the African and Arabian species". Zootaxa. 3675: 1–108. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3675.1.1. PMID 26146699. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  4. ^ Simon, E (1903). Histoire naturelle des araignées. Paris: Roret. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.51973.
  5. ^ Moradmand, Majid; Jäger, Peter (2012). "Taxonomic revision of the huntsman spider genus Eusparassus Simon, 1903 (Araneae: Sparassidae) in Eurasia". Journal of Natural History. 46 (39–40): 2439–2496. doi:10.1080/00222933.2012.707249. S2CID 84887608. Retrieved November 8, 2022.