''Harpactea'' 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 woodlouse hunting spiders that was first described by

W. S. Bristowe William Syer Bristowe (1 September 1901 – 11 September 1979), who wrote under the name W. S. Bristowe, was an English naturalist, a prolific and popular scientific writer and authority on spiders. He was educated at Wellington College and Cambr ...

in 1939. They are non-web building predators that forage on the ground and on tree trunks at night, mainly in xerothermic forests. During the day, they hide in

silk Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoons. The best-known silk is obtained from the coc ...

retreats they build under rocks or bark. '' H. sadistica'' was found to use

traumatic insemination Traumatic insemination, also known as hypodermic insemination, is the mating practice in some species of invertebrates in which the male pierces the female's abdomen with his aedeagus and injects his sperm through the wound into her abdominal c ...

, the arthropod behavior of directly inserting its sperm into the body cavity of females. It is the first time it has ever been observed in spiders. ''H. hombergi'' is the only member of its genus that occurs in

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

Description

Like all woodlouse hunters, ''Harpactea'' have six eyes. The

type species In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...

, '' H. hombergi'', can grow up to a body length of . Males and females are similar, but the female has no

epigyne The epigyne or epigynum is the external genital structure of female spiders. As the epigyne varies greatly in form in different species, even in closely related ones, it often provides the most distinctive characteristic for recognizing species. ...

. Like the rest of their family, they are

nocturnal Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal", versus diurnal meaning the opposite. Nocturnal creatures generally have highly developed sens ...

. Unlike them, ''Harpactea'' do not specialize on hunting

woodlice A woodlouse (plural woodlice) is an isopod crustacean from the polyphyleticThe current consensus is that Oniscidea is actually triphyletic suborder Oniscidea within the order Isopoda. They get their name from often being found in old wood. ...

. ''H. rubicunda'' also hunts ''

Drassodes ''Drassodes'' is a genus of ground spiders that was first described by Niklas Westring in 1851. They are brown, gray, and red spiders that live under rocks or bark in mostly dry habitats, and are generally long, but can reach up to in length. ...

'' and other spiders, but most ''Harpactea'' feed on insects in addition to woodlice.

Species

Almost all species of this genus appear to be

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...

to small regions of the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...

. it contains 188 species from

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

and

Northern Africa North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in t ...

Turkmenistan Turkmenistan ( or ; tk, Türkmenistan / Түркменистан, ) is a country located in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the sout ...

and

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

: *'' H. abantia'' (

Simon Simon may refer to: People * Simon (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name Simon * Simon (surname), including a list of people with the surname Simon * Eugène Simon, French naturalist and the genus ...

, 1885) – Greece *'' H. achsuensis'' Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan *'' H. acuta'' Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria *'' H. aeoliensis'' Alicata, 1973 – Italy *'' H. agnolettii'' Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey *'' H. alanyana'' Özkütük, Elverici, Marusik & Kunt, 2015 – Turkey *'' H. albanica'' ( Caporiacco, 1949) – Albania *'' H. alexandrae'' Lazarov, 2006 – Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Russia (Europe) *'' H. algarvensis'' Ferrández, 1990 – Portugal *'' H. alicatai'' Brignoli, 1979 – Italy (Sardinia) *'' H. angustata'' (Lucas, 1846) – Algeria *'' H. antoni'' Bosmans, 2009 – Greece *'' H. apollinea'' Brignoli, 1979 – Greece *'' H. arguta'' (Simon, 1907) – France, Italy *'' H. armenica'' Dunin, 1989 – Armenia *'' H. arnedoi'' Kunt, Elverici, Özkütük & Yağmur, 2011 – Turkey *'' H. asparuhi'' Lazarov, 2008 – Bulgaria *'' H. auresensis'' Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria *'' H. auriga'' (Simon, 1911) – Algeria *'' H. aurigoides'' Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria *'' H. azerbajdzhanica'' Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan *'' H. azowensis'' Charitonov, 1956 – Ukraine, Russia (Europe) *'' H. babori'' (Nosek, 1905) – Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey *'' H. ballarini'' Kunt, Özkütük & Elverici, 2013 – Turkey *'' H. blasi'' Ribera & Ferrández, 1986 – Spain *'' H. brachati'' Wunderlich, 2020 – Turkey *'' H. buchari'' Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan *'' H. bulgarica'' Lazarov & Naumova, 2010 – Macedonia, Bulgaria *'' H. caligata'' Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria *'' H. carusoi'' Alicata, 1974 – Italy, Tunisia *'' H. catholica'' (Brignoli, 1984) – Greece (Crete) *'' H. caucasia'' ( Kulczyński, 1895) – Russia (Caucasus), Georgia *'' H. cecconii'' (Kulczyński, 1908) – Cyprus *'' H. cesari'' Van Keer, 2009 – Greece *'' H. chreensis'' Bosmans & Beladjal, 1989 – Algeria *'' H. christae'' Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria *'' H. christodeltshevi'' Bayram, Kunt & Yağmur, 2009 – Turkey *'' H. clementi'' Bosmans, 2009 – Greece, Turkey *'' H. coccifera'' Brignoli, 1984 – Greece (Crete) *'' H. colchidis'' Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey *'' H. complicata'' Deltshev, 2011 – Serbia *'' H. corinthia'' Brignoli, 1984 – Greece *'' H. corticalis'' (Simon, 1882) – France, Italy *'' H. cressa'' Brignoli, 1984 – Greece (Crete) *'' H. cruriformis'' Bosmans, 2011 – Greece *'' H. damini'' Pavlek & Arnedo, 2020 – Croatia *'' H. dashdamirovi'' Dunin, 1993 – Azerbaijan *'' H. decebali'' Nae, 2021 – Romania *'' H. deelemanae'' Dunin, 1989 – Armenia *'' H. deltshevi'' Dimitrov & Lazarov, 1999 – Bulgaria *'' H. digiovannii'' Gasparo, 2014 – Greece *'' H. diraoi'' Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey *'' H. dobati'' Alicata, 1974 – Turkey *'' H. doblikae'' ( Thorell, 1875) – Ukraine (mainland, Crimea) *'' H. dufouri'' (Thorell, 1873) – Spain *'' H. dumonti'' Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria *'' H. eskovi'' Dunin, 1989 – Georgia, Armenia *'' H. fageli'' Brignoli, 1980 – Portugal, Spain *'' H. forceps'' Varol & Danışman, 2018 – Turkey *'' H. forcipifera'' (Simon, 1911) – Algeria *'' H. gaditana'' Pesarini, 1988 – Spain *'' H. galatica'' Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey *'' H. gennargentu'' Wunderlich, 1995 – Italy (Sardinia) *'' H. globifera'' (Simon, 1911) – Algeria *'' H. gobustanica'' (Nuruyeva & Huseynov, 2022) – Azerbaijan *'' H. golovatchi'' Dunin, 1989 – Armenia *'' H. gridellii'' (Caporiacco, 1951) – Italy *'' H. grisea'' (

Canestrini Giovanni Canestrini (26 December 1835 – 14 February 1900) was an Italian naturalist and biologist and translator who was a native of Revò. Career He initially studied in Gorizia and Meran, then furthered his education in natural sciences at ...

, 1868) – Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Slovenia *'' H. gunselorum'' Gücel, Fuller, Göçmen & Kunt, 2018 – Cyprus *'' H. hauseri'' Brignoli, 1976 – Greece *'' H. heizerensis'' Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria *'' H. heliconia'' Brignoli, 1984 – Greece *'' H. henschi'' (Kulczyński, 1915) – Bosnia-Hercegovina *'' H. herodis'' Brignoli, 1978 – Israel *'' H. hispana'' (Simon, 1882) – Spain, France *'' H. hombergi'' (Scopoli, 1763) ( type) – Europe *'' H. hyrcanica'' Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan *'' H. ice'' Komnenov & Chatzaki, 2016 – Greece *'' H. incerta'' Brignoli, 1979 – Greece *'' H. incurvata'' Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria *'' H. indistincta'' Dunin, 1991 – Russia (Caucasus), Azerbaijan *'' H. innupta'' Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria *'' H. isaurica'' Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey *'' H. johannitica'' Brignoli, 1976 – Greece *'' H. kalaensis'' Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria *'' H. kalavachiana'' Gücel, Charalambidou, Göçmen & Kunt, 2019 – Cyprus *'' H. karabachica'' Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan *'' H. karaschkhan'' Kunt, Özkütük, Elverici, Marusik & Karakaş, 2016 – Turkey *'' H. kareli'' Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria *'' H. kencei'' Kunt, Elverici, Özkütük & Yağmur, 2011 – Turkey *'' H. konradi'' Lazarov, 2009 – Bulgaria *'' H. korgei'' Brignoli, 1979 – Turkey *'' H. krueperi'' (Simon, 1885) – Greece *'' H. krumi'' Lazarov, 2010 – Bulgaria *'' H. kubrati'' Lazarov, 2008 – Bulgaria *'' H. kulczynskii'' Brignoli, 1976 – Greece *'' H. lazarovi'' Deltshev, 2011 – Bulgaria *'' H. lazonum'' Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey *'' H. lepida'' (

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 ...

, 1838) – Europe *'' H. loebli'' Brignoli, 1974 – Greece *'' H. logunovi'' Dunin, 1992 – Russia (Caucasus), Georgia *'' H. longitarsa'' Alicata, 1974 – Algeria, Tunisia *'' H. longobarda'' Pesarini, 2001 – Spain (Balearic Is.), Italy, Ukraine *'' H. maelfaiti'' Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria *'' H. magnibulbi'' Machado & Ferrández, 1991 – Portugal *'' H. major'' (Simon, 1911) – Algeria *'' H. mariae'' Komnenov, 2014 – Macedonia *'' H. martensi'' Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan *'' H. mateparlovi'' Pavlek & Arnedo, 2020 – Croatia *'' H. mcheidzeae'' Dunin, 1992 – Georgia *'' H. medeae'' Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey *'' H. mehennii'' Bosmans & Beladjal, 1989 – Algeria *'' H. mentor'' Lazarov & Naumova, 2010 – Bulgaria *'' H. mertensi'' Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria *'' H. minoccii'' Ferrández, 1982 – Spain *'' H. minuta'' Alicata, 1974 – Tunisia *'' H. mithridatis'' Brignoli, 1979 – Turkey, Georgia *'' H. mitidjae'' Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria *'' H. modesta'' Dunin, 1991 – Russia (Caucasus), Azerbaijan *'' H. monicae'' Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria *'' H. mouzaiensis'' Bosmans & Beladjal, 1989 – Algeria *'' H. muscicola'' (Simon, 1882) – France (Corsica) *'' H. nachitschevanica'' Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan *'' H. nausicaae'' Brignoli, 1976 – Macedonia, Greece *'' H. nenilini'' Dunin, 1989 – Armenia *'' H. nuragica'' Alicata, 1966 – Italy (Sardinia) *'' H. oglasana'' Gasparo, 1992 – Italy *'' H. oranensis'' Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria *'' H. ortegai'' Ribera & De Mas, 2003 – Spain *'' H. osellai'' Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey *'' H. ouarsenensis'' Bosmans & Beladjal, 1991 – Algeria *'' H. ovata'' Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria *'' H. paradoxa'' Dunin, 1992 – Georgia *'' H. parthica'' Brignoli, 1980 – Iran, Turkmenistan? *'' H. persephone'' Gasparo, 2011 – Greece (Crete) *'' H. petrovi'' Lazarov & Dimitrov, 2018 – Bulgaria *'' H. piligera'' (Thorell, 1875) – Italy *'' H. pisidica'' Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey *'' H. popovi'' Dimitrov, Deltshev & Lazarov, 2019 – Bulgaria *'' H. proxima'' Ferrández, 1990 – Portugal *'' H. pugio'' Varol & Akpınar, 2016 – Turkey *'' H. punica'' Alicata, 1974 – Algeria, Tunisia *'' H. reniformis'' Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria *'' H. rubicunda'' (C. L. Koch, 1838) – Europe, Georgia *'' H. rucnerorum'' Polenec & Thaler, 1975 – Croatia *'' H. ruffoi'' Alicata, 1974 – Tunisia *'' H. rugichelis'' Denis, 1955 – Lebanon *'' H. sadistica'' Řezáč, 2008 – Israel *'' H. saeva'' (Herman, 1879) – Slovakia, Hungary, south-eastern Europe to Ukraine *'' H. salvatorei'' Platania & Arnedo, 2020 – Italy *'' H. samuili'' Lazarov, 2006 – North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece *'' H. sanctaeinsulae'' Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey *'' H. sanctidomini'' Gasparo, 1997 – Italy *'' H. sardoa'' Alicata, 1966 – Italy *'' H. sbordonii'' Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey *'' H. sciakyi'' Pesarini, 1988 – Spain *'' H. secunda'' Dunin, 1989 – Armenia *'' H. senalbensis'' Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria *'' H. serena'' (Simon, 1907) – Spain, France *'' H. sicula'' Alicata, 1966 – Italy (Sicily), Malta *'' H. simovi'' Deltshev & Lazarov, 2018 – Bulgaria *'' H. sinuata'' Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria *'' H. spasskyi'' Dunin, 1992 – Ukraine (Crimea), Russia (Caucasus) *'' H. spirembolus'' Russell-Smith, 2011 – Greece *'' H. srednagora'' Dimitrov & Lazarov, 1999 – Macedonia, Bulgaria *'' H. stalitoides'' Ribera, 1993 – Portugal *'' H. stoevi'' Deltshev & Lazarov, 2018 – Bulgaria *'' H. strandi'' (Caporiacco, 1939) – Italy *'' H. strandjica'' Dimitrov, 1997 – Bulgaria, Turkey *'' H. strinatii'' Brignoli, 1979 – Greece *'' H. sturanyi'' (Nosek, 1905) – Greece, Turkey, Georgia *'' H. subiasi'' Ferrández, 1990 – Portugal *'' H. talyschica'' Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan *'' H. tavirensis'' Wunderlich, 2020 – Portugal *'' H. tenuiemboli'' Deltshev, 2011 – Serbia *'' H. tergestina'' Gasparo, 2014 – Italy *'' H. terveli'' Lazarov, 2009 – Bulgaria, Turkey *'' H. thaleri'' Alicata, 1966 – Switzerland, Italy *'' H. undosa'' Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria *'' H. vagabunda'' Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan *'' H. vignai'' Brignoli, 1978 – Turkey *'' H. villehardouini'' Brignoli, 1979 – Greece *'' H. wolfgangi'' Komnenov & Chatzaki, 2016 – Greece *'' H. yakourensis'' Beladjal & Bosmans, 1997 – Algeria *'' H. zaitzevi'' Charitonov, 1956 – Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia *'' H. zannonensis'' Alicata, 1966 – Italy *'' H. zjuzini'' Dunin, 1991 – Azerbaijan *'' H. zoiai'' Gasparo, 1999 – Greece

Description

Species

References

Further reading

External links