Ochyroceratidae
Encyclopedia
The Ochyroceratidae are a six-eyed spider family in the Leptonetoidea
superfamily, with 154 described species in 14 genera.
Ochyroceratidae are common inhabitants of the tropical forest litter and caves in South Africa, the Caribbean and Asia, especially species rich in the Indo-Pacific, where they constitute one of the ecological counterparts of the Linyphiidae
of the northern temperate zone.
They build small, irregular sheet-webs in dark, damp places around leaves, sticks and logs, and typically carry their eggs in their chelicerae
until they hatch. Their body length ranges from 0.6 to 3 millimeters. Some species in the subfamily Psilodercinae (Althepus, Leclercera) with very long legs are superficially similar to Pholcidae.
At least one species in the genus Theotima (the only 0.9mm long T. minutissima) was shown to be parthenogenetic
.
Leptonetoidea
The Leptonetoidea are a superfamily of araneomorph spiders. They contain three families of six-eyed spiders:* Leptonetidae* Ochyroceratidae* Telemidae...
superfamily, with 154 described species in 14 genera.
Ochyroceratidae are common inhabitants of the tropical forest litter and caves in South Africa, the Caribbean and Asia, especially species rich in the Indo-Pacific, where they constitute one of the ecological counterparts of the Linyphiidae
Linyphiidae
Linyphiidae is a family of spiders, including more than 4,300 described species in 578 genera worldwide. This makes Linyphiidae the second largest family of spiders after the Salticidae. New species are still being discovered throughout the world, and the family is poorly known...
of the northern temperate zone.
They build small, irregular sheet-webs in dark, damp places around leaves, sticks and logs, and typically carry their eggs in their chelicerae
Chelicerae
The chelicerae are mouthparts of the Chelicerata, an arthropod subphylum that includes arachnids, Merostomata , and Pycnogonida . Chelicerae are pointed appendages which are used to grasp food, and are found in place of the chewing mandibles most other arthropods have...
until they hatch. Their body length ranges from 0.6 to 3 millimeters. Some species in the subfamily Psilodercinae (Althepus, Leclercera) with very long legs are superficially similar to Pholcidae.
At least one species in the genus Theotima (the only 0.9mm long T. minutissima) was shown to be parthenogenetic
Parthenogenesis
Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction found in females, where growth and development of embryos occur without fertilization by a male...
.
Genera
- AlthepusAlthepusAlthepus was in Greek mythology a son of the Greek god Poseidon and Leïs, a daughter of Orus, king of Troezen. The territory of Troezen was called "Althepia" after him. In his reign Poseidon and Athena disputed the possession of the country with each other....
Thorell, 1898 (South Asia) - Dundocera Machado, 1951 (Angola)
- Euso Saaristo, 2001 (Seychelles)
- Fageicera Dumitrescu & Georgescu, 1992 (Cuba)
- FlexicrurumFlexicrurumFlexicrurum is a genus of small spiders from China, in the family Ochyroceratidae. It is similar to the genera Althepus and Leclercera. Males are generally smaller than 2 mm; females are unknown...
Tong & Li, 2007 (China) - Leclercera Deeleman-Reinhold, 1995 (South Asia)
- Lundacera Machado, 1951 (Angola)
- Merizocera Fage, 1912 (South Asia)
- Ochyrocera SimonEugène SimonEugène Simon was a French arachnologist. His many taxonomic contributions include categorizing and naming many spiders, as well as creating genera such as Anelosimus, Psellocoptus and Phlogius....
, 1891 (Mexico to Peru) - Ouette Saaristo, 1998 (Seychelles)
- Psiloderces Simon, 1892 (South Asia)
- Roche Saaristo, 1998 (Seychelles)
- Speocera BerlandLucien BerlandLucien Berland was a French entomologist and an arachnologist- Partial list of publications :* 1925 : Faune de France...
, 1914 (South Asia, South America, Africa) - TheotimaTheotimaTheotima is a genus of small spiders in the family Ochyroceratidae.-Species:* Theotima elva Gertsch, 1977 * Theotima fallax Fage, 1912 Theotima is a genus of small spiders in the family Ochyroceratidae.-Species:* Theotima elva Gertsch, 1977 (Mexico)* Theotima fallax Fage, 1912 Theotima is a genus...
Simon, 1893 (Central and South America, Africa, Asia, Pacific Islands)