''Deinopis'', also known as net-casting spiders, gladiator spiders and ogre-faced spiders, is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of net-casting spiders that was first described by W. S. MacLeay in 1839. Its distribution is widely tropical and subtropical. They catch their prey using a specially spun "net". The name is derived from the Greek (''deinos''), meaning "fearful", and ''opis'', meaning "appearance", referring to their ogre-like faces. The spelling "''Dinopis''" is also found, but is regarded as an "unjustified emendation".

Net-casting

Spiders in the genus ''Deinopis'' catch their prey in an unusual fashion. They first spin a small upright rectangular cribellate web. This is then detached from its supporting threads and held horizontally above the ground by the spider's long front two pairs of legs while the spider hangs almost vertically. Passing prey is then captured by dropping the "net" over it.

Eyes

The two posterior median eyes are enlarged and forward-facing. These eyes have a wide field of view and are able to gather available light more efficiently than the eyes of cats and owls, and are 2000 times more sensitive to light than human photoreceptors. This is despite the fact that they lack a reflective layer ( tapetum lucidum); instead, each night, a large area of light-sensitive membrane is manufactured within the eyes, and since arachnid eyes do not have irises, it is rapidly destroyed again at dawn. To aid further in netting prey, the spider places white fecal spots on the surface below the net and uses them for aiming. The spiders also lack ears and use hairs and receptors on their legs to distinguish sounds at a distance of up to 2 meters.

Species

it contains twenty species: *'' D. amica'' Schiapelli & Gerschman, 1957 – Argentina, Uruguay *'' D. armaticeps'' Mello-Leitão, 1925 – Brazil *'' D. biaculeata'' Simon, 1906 – Brazil *'' D. bituberculata'' Franganillo, 1930 – Cuba *'' D. bucculenta'' Schenkel, 1953 – Venezuela *'' D. cylindracea''

C. L. Koch Carl Ludwig Koch (21 September 1778 – 23 August 1857) 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 ...

, 1846 – Colombia *'' D. diabolica'' Kraus, 1956 – El Salvador *'' D. fastigata'' Simon, 1906 – Brazil *'' D. granadensis'' Keyserling, 1879 – Colombia *'' D. guasca'' Mello-Leitão, 1943 – Brazil *'' D. guianensis''

Taczanowski Taczanowski (Polish feminine: Taczanowska; plural: Taczanowscy) is the surname of a Polish szlachta (nobility) family from Poznań bearing the Jastrzębiec coat of arms and the motto: ''Plus penser que dire''. They took their name from th ...

, 1874 – French Guiana *'' D. lamia'' MacLeay, 1839 ( type) – Cuba, Puerto Rico *'' D. longipes'' F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1902 – Mexico to Panama *'' D. pallida'' Mello-Leitão, 1939 – Brazil *'' D. pardalis'' Simon, 1906 – Brazil *'' D. plurituberculata'' Mello-Leitão, 1925 – Brazil *'' D. rodophthalma'' Mello-Leitão, 1939 – Brazil *'' D. seriata'' Simon, 1906 – Brazil *'' D. spinosa'' Marx, 1889 – USA, St. Vincent, Venezuela *'' D. tuboculata'' Franganillo, 1926 – Cuba

References

External links

Deinopis
at BugGuide *
Video of Gladiator spider constructing the net and catching its prey

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2704272 Araneomorphae genera Deinopidae