Psellocoptus
Encyclopedia
Psellocoptus is a genus of running spiders (family Corinnidae, formerly Clubionidae) that is endemic
to Venezuela
. When Eugène Simon
discovered the first species (P. flavostriatus), he described it as a "beautiful and large species from the forests of Venezuela which [is] found running rapidly on the trunks of trees". The two other species, found in 1971, are very similar to the first, while the whole genus is quite distinct from any other genus in general form and characteristics. It probably became isolated from the more widespread genera Myrmecium and Castianeira
.
s, Psellocoptus has a rounded anterior end and a relatively "unsegmented" red-brown, shiny, slightly granulated carapace.
meaning "tooth in front".
Endemic (ecology)
Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...
to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. When Eugène Simon
Eugène Simon
Eugène 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....
discovered the first species (P. flavostriatus), he described it as a "beautiful and large species from the forests of Venezuela which [is] found running rapidly on the trunks of trees". The two other species, found in 1971, are very similar to the first, while the whole genus is quite distinct from any other genus in general form and characteristics. It probably became isolated from the more widespread genera Myrmecium and Castianeira
Castianeira
Castianeira is a genus of spiders present in Eurasia, Africa, and the Americas.Some of its species mimic ants; others prey on them.-References:...
.
Description
While the similar genera Myrmecium and Sphecotypus also have indented carapaceCarapace
A carapace is a dorsal section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tortoises, the underside is called the plastron.-Crustaceans:In crustaceans, the...
s, Psellocoptus has a rounded anterior end and a relatively "unsegmented" red-brown, shiny, slightly granulated carapace.
Species
- Psellocoptus buchlii Reiskind, 1971 (Venezuela)
- Psellocoptus flavostriatus Simon, 1896 (Venezuela)
- Psellocoptus prodontus Reiskind, 1971 (Venezuela)
Names
The species name flavostriatus means "striped yellow". P. buchlii is named after the late Harro Buchli; the species name prodontus is from the GreekGreek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
meaning "tooth in front".