Plebs is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by M. M. Joseph & V. W. Framenau in 2012.[2] Though many of its species have been moved around, a 2012 taxonomic revision suggested that these spiders comprise a monophyletic genus of closely related spiders that evolved in Australia and, through subsequent movements, spread into parts of Asia and Pacific islands.[2]

Plebs
P. eburnus on web.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Araneidae
Genus: Plebs
Joseph & Framenau, 2012[1]
Type species
P. eburnus
(Keyserling, 1886)
Species

22, see text

Plebs bradleyi

Etymology

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"Plebs" is Latin for "common people" and refers to this genus being common in Australia.[2]

Description

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Plebs can be recognised by the unique pattern on the underside of the abdomen: a light inverted U shape, followed by two light spots anterolateral to the spinnerets. Spiders of this genus have a typical "eriophorine" genital morphology: the male pedipalp has a paramedian apophysis and an elongated transverse median apophysis, while the female epigyne has an elongated scape without terminal pockets.[2]

Behaviour

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These spiders are mainly diurnal, unlike most Araneinae which are mainly nocturnal. They build regular orb-webs with vertical stabilimenta (web decorations used by this and other diurnal orb-weavers). Their webs are generally built in grass and low shrubs.[2]

Species

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As of April 2019 it contains twenty-two species. Seven are found in Australia, thirteen in Asia, one on New Caledonia, and one endemic to Vanuatu.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Gen. Plebs Joseph & Framenau, 2012". World Spider Catalog Version 20.0. Natural History Museum Bern. 2019. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2019-05-14.
  2. ^ a b c d e Joseph, Mathew M.; Framenau, Volker W. (2012). "Systematic review of a new orb-weaving spider genus (Araneae: Araneidae), with special reference to the Australasian-Pacific and South-East Asian fauna". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 166 (2): 279–341. doi:10.1111/j.1096-3642.2012.00845.x.