Atypus Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
A. karschi | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Araneae |
Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
Family: | Atypidae |
Genus: |
Atypus Latreille, 1804 [1] |
Type species | |
A. piceus (
Sulzer, 1776)
| |
Species | |
33, see text | |
Synonyms [1] | |
|
Atypus, also called purseweb spiders, is a genus of atypical tarantulas first described by Pierre André Latreille in 1804. [3] It occurs in Eurasia, with one species (A. affinis) reaching into North Africa. [1] Only three of the described species occur in Europe: A. piceus, A. affinis, and A. muralis. [1] Specimens from the USA formerly known as A. snetsingeri represent an introduced population of A. karschi. [4]
Peasants in the southern Carpathian Mountains used to cut up tubes built by Atypus and cover wounds with the inner lining. It reportedly facilitated healing, and even connected with the skin. This is believed to be due to antiseptic properties of spider silk (which is made of protein). [5]
They are three-clawed, medium to large spiders with eight eyes. They have six spinnerets with the median spinneret truncated. The prolateral sides of the maxillae are elongated. The cephalic side of the cephalothorax is elevated. They have large chelicerae with long and thin fangs. The male sternum has marginal ridges. [6]
As of November 2022 [update] it contains 33 species: [1]
Atypus Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
A. karschi | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Araneae |
Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
Family: | Atypidae |
Genus: |
Atypus Latreille, 1804 [1] |
Type species | |
A. piceus (
Sulzer, 1776)
| |
Species | |
33, see text | |
Synonyms [1] | |
|
Atypus, also called purseweb spiders, is a genus of atypical tarantulas first described by Pierre André Latreille in 1804. [3] It occurs in Eurasia, with one species (A. affinis) reaching into North Africa. [1] Only three of the described species occur in Europe: A. piceus, A. affinis, and A. muralis. [1] Specimens from the USA formerly known as A. snetsingeri represent an introduced population of A. karschi. [4]
Peasants in the southern Carpathian Mountains used to cut up tubes built by Atypus and cover wounds with the inner lining. It reportedly facilitated healing, and even connected with the skin. This is believed to be due to antiseptic properties of spider silk (which is made of protein). [5]
They are three-clawed, medium to large spiders with eight eyes. They have six spinnerets with the median spinneret truncated. The prolateral sides of the maxillae are elongated. The cephalic side of the cephalothorax is elevated. They have large chelicerae with long and thin fangs. The male sternum has marginal ridges. [6]
As of November 2022 [update] it contains 33 species: [1]