Damastes | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Araneae |
Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
Family: | Sparassidae |
Genus: |
Damastes Simon, 1880 [1] |
Type species | |
D. grandidieri Simon, 1880
| |
Species | |
16, see text |
Damastes is a genus of East African huntsman spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1880. [2] It is classified under the family Sparassidae, though its subfamilial classification remains unclear. [3] [4] The subspecies Damastes coquereli affinis is a nomen dubium. [5]
As of September 2019 [update] it contains sixteen species, found on the Seychelles, in Mozambique, and on Madagascar: [1]
An unspecified Damastes species has been observed in the Sava Region of northeast Madagascar predating on vertebrates ( frogs, Heterixalus andrakata). [6] [7] [8] The same spider - and others of the same species - also build structures of leaves and silk and hide in the back of them. [6] [7] [8] It is speculated that these are traps for catching these frogs. [6] [7] [8]
Damastes | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Araneae |
Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
Family: | Sparassidae |
Genus: |
Damastes Simon, 1880 [1] |
Type species | |
D. grandidieri Simon, 1880
| |
Species | |
16, see text |
Damastes is a genus of East African huntsman spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1880. [2] It is classified under the family Sparassidae, though its subfamilial classification remains unclear. [3] [4] The subspecies Damastes coquereli affinis is a nomen dubium. [5]
As of September 2019 [update] it contains sixteen species, found on the Seychelles, in Mozambique, and on Madagascar: [1]
An unspecified Damastes species has been observed in the Sava Region of northeast Madagascar predating on vertebrates ( frogs, Heterixalus andrakata). [6] [7] [8] The same spider - and others of the same species - also build structures of leaves and silk and hide in the back of them. [6] [7] [8] It is speculated that these are traps for catching these frogs. [6] [7] [8]