Runcinia grammica
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Thomisidae
Genus:	Runcinia
Species:	R. grammica
Binomial name
Runcinia grammica (C. L. Koch, 1837)

Runcinia grammica (sometimes also referred to as Runcinia lateralis) ^[1] is a species of spiders of the genus Runcinia, with a distribution of "Europa, Near East to Iran, Russia, Central Asia, China, Japan. Introduced to St. Helena, South Africa." ^[2]

The species generally lives in peat bogs, fens, and meadows, ^{[3] [4]} although it has also been known to inhabit urban areas ^[5] They usually mature to adulthood in the summer. ^[4] They have short, broad bodies, ^[6] which are covered in hair and spines. ^[7] They have clear muscular corrugation on their sides, ^[7] and, on small raised bumps on their heads, eight small eyes. ^[6] Males are usually 2.5–3.5mm in length, females 4-6mm. ^[4] They are predators, ^[5] and eat various species of insects. ^[4]

Unlike many spiders, they do not spin a web of any kind. Instead, they prowl on the ground, as well as climbing plants and flowers, to find their prey. ^[6] They can move forwards, backwards, and sideways. ^[6]

Runcina grammica has reportedly been sighted in various areas of Southeastern Spain ^[8] and Southwestern Portugal. ^{[9] [10]} They are also known to inhabit Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Caucasus, ^[11] Italy, ^[12] India, ^[7] South Africa, St. Helena, ^{[13] [14] [15]} Turkey, ^{[15] [14]} France, ^[16] and in the Carpathian Basin. ^[17] They are among the most common species of spiders in Portugal. ^[14] They are one of the many species preserved at the Mountain Zebra National Park, in South Africa. ^[18]

References