Attus
Encyclopedia
Attus is a deprecated spider
genus that is now considered a junior synonym of Salticus
. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, the majority of jumping spiders were grouped under the name Attus.
The genus was originally described in 1805 by Charles Walckenaer
, only a year after Pierre Latreille
described the first jumping spider genus, Salticus. Walckenaer, ignoring Latreille, placed all of the spiders assigned to Salticus into his new genus, Attus, with the exception of Aranea cinnaberinus
which he placed into Eresus
. No further actions were taken regarding these genera until 1810, when Latreille moved Aranea scenica back to Salticus by declaring it as the type species
for the genus.
Over the course of the 19th century, numerous new genera were split off of Attus, reducing the number of species assigned to the genus considerably. In 1832, Nicholas Marcellus Hentz
detached the genera Lyssomanes
, Synemosyna
, and Epiblemum from Attus. In 1833, Carl Sundevall
moved numerous species from Attus to Salticus. From 1833 to 1850, Carl Ludwig Koch
created twenty-four new jumping spider genera, most of which were detached from Attus.
Due the genus's unclear definition it was often used as a provisional classification for any jumping spiders which could not otherwise be assigned to a genus. In 1955, Pierre Bonnet
declared it a synonym of Salticus since Walkenaer did not differentiate Attus from Salticus and the later had priority as an older name.
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
genus that is now considered a junior synonym of Salticus
Salticus
Salticus is a spider genus of the Salticidae family .-Description:Salticus species are typically marked with a black and white pattern, with some featuring transverse stripes, often gaining them the popular name "zebra spiders". Mature males have very long chelicerae on which they rest their long,...
. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, the majority of jumping spiders were grouped under the name Attus.
The genus was originally described in 1805 by Charles Walckenaer
Charles Athanase Walckenaer
Baron Charles Athanase Walckenaer was a French civil servant and scientist.-Biography:Walckenaer was born in Paris and studied at the universities of Oxford and Glasgow. In 1793 he was appointed head of the military transports in the Pyrenees, after which he pursued technical studies at the École...
, only a year after Pierre Latreille
Pierre André Latreille
Pierre André Latreille was a French zoologist, specialising in arthropods. Having trained as a Roman Catholic priest before the French Revolution, Latreille was imprisoned, and only regained his freedom after recognising a rare species he found in the prison, Necrobia ruficollis...
described the first jumping spider genus, Salticus. Walckenaer, ignoring Latreille, placed all of the spiders assigned to Salticus into his new genus, Attus, with the exception of Aranea cinnaberinus
Eresus cinnaberinus
Eresus cinnaberinus , of the family Eresidae, is commonly called the Ladybird Spider. It is native to Europe....
which he placed into Eresus
Eresus
Eresus is a genus of velvet spiders comprising several species, including Eresus cinnaberinus and Eresus sandaliatus, both of which are sometimes known as the "Ladybird spider".-Species:...
. No further actions were taken regarding these genera until 1810, when Latreille moved Aranea scenica back to Salticus by declaring it as the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
for the genus.
Over the course of the 19th century, numerous new genera were split off of Attus, reducing the number of species assigned to the genus considerably. In 1832, Nicholas Marcellus Hentz
Nicholas Marcellus Hentz
Nicholas Marcellus Hentz was a French American arachnologist. Hentz was born in Versailles, France. He immigrated to the United States in 1816 and became a pioneering zoologist in the field of arachnology....
detached the genera Lyssomanes
Lyssomanes
Lyssomanes is a spider genus of the Salticidae family . Approximately 80 species have been described, ranging from South and Central America, up to the southern United States....
, Synemosyna
Synemosyna
Synemosyna is a genus of ant-like jumping spiders that occurs from Argentina to the northern United States.-Species:* Synemosyna americana — Mexico to Venezuela* Synemosyna ankeli Cutler & Müller, 1991 — Colombia...
, and Epiblemum from Attus. In 1833, Carl Sundevall
Carl Jakob Sundevall
Carl Jakob Sundevall was a Swedish zoologist.Sundevall studied at Lund University, where he became a Ph.D. in 1823. After traveling to East Asia, he studied medicine, graduating as Doctor of Medicine in 1830....
moved numerous species from Attus to Salticus. From 1833 to 1850, Carl Ludwig Koch
Carl Ludwig Koch
Carl Ludwig Koch was a German entomologist and arachnologist. He was responsible for classifying a great number of spiders, including the Brazilian whiteknee tarantula and Common house spider. He was born in Kusel, Germany and died in Nuremberg, Germany.Carl Ludwig Koch was an inspector of water...
created twenty-four new jumping spider genera, most of which were detached from Attus.
Due the genus's unclear definition it was often used as a provisional classification for any jumping spiders which could not otherwise be assigned to a genus. In 1955, Pierre Bonnet
Pierre Bonnet (naturalist)
Pierre Bonnet was a French arachnologist who wrote Bibliographia Araneorum, an immense work listing publications on spiders. It was the result of forty years work....
declared it a synonym of Salticus since Walkenaer did not differentiate Attus from Salticus and the later had priority as an older name.