Homalonychus is a genus of araneomorph spiders, and is the only genus in the family Homalonychidae. It was first described by George Marx in 1891.[2] As of October 2023[update] it contains only two species: H. selenopoides and H. theologus.[1] They are found in the southern United States and Mexico: H. theologus is mostly found west of the Colorado River, while H. selenopoides is mostly found to the east, with some populations in Death Valley and near Mercury, Nevada.[3]
| Homalonychus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Homalonychidae Simon, 1893 |
| Genus: | Homalonychus Marx, 1891[1] |
| Type species | |
| H. selenopoides Marx, 1891 | |
| Species | |
| |
They do not build webs, and are typically found under rocks or dead vegetation. At least the two North American species live in deserts, to which they are adapted by color and specialized setae which allow them to attach sand and fine soil to themselves. They also partially bury themselves.[4]
References
Further reading
- Chamberlin, R.V. (1924). "The spider fauna of the shores and islands of the Gulf of California". Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 12: 561–694.
- Crews, Sarah C.; Hedin, M. C. (2006). "Studies of morphological and molecular phylogenetic divergence inspiders (Araneae: Homalonychus) from the American southwest including divergence along the Baja Peninsula" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 38 (2): 470–487. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2005.11.010. PMID 16376109. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-15.
- Roth, V. D. (1984). "The spider family Homalonychidae (Arachnida, Araneae)" (PDF). American Museum Novitates. 2790.
- Vetter, R. S.; Cokendolpher, J. C. (2000). "Homalonychus theologus (Araneae, Homalonychidae): Description of eggsacs and a possible defensive posture" (PDF). The Journal of Arachnology. 28 (3): 361–363. doi:10.1636/0161-8202(2000)028[0361:HTAHDO]2.0.CO;2.
External links
Data related to Homalonychidae at Wikispecies
Media related to Homalonychus at Wikimedia Commons- Pictures of Homalonychus sp.
