Name
Lycosidae
tarantula, wolf spider
Framing
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Suborder: Araneomorpha
Family: Lycosidae
Habitat
Terrestrial, epigeal
Feeding
Carnivorous (epigeous arthropods) Predation by other spiders and cannibalism is common
Distribution
Present on all continents
Conservation status
Not evaluated
Additional information
Spider with labidognathic chelicerae. Eyes arranged in three groups: the first group with four small eyes in a frontal position, a pair of large eyes in a frontal position and a pair of slightly smaller rear eyes in a dorso-lateral position. They live in burrows dug into the ground, easily recognizable for having their entrance surrounded by a curb of silk and wisps.
Additional information
Bibliography
- Jones, D. (2004). Guía de campo de los arácnidos de España y de Europa. Omega, Barcelona.
- Planas, E., Fernández-Montraveta, C. & Ribera, C. (2013). Molecular systematics of the wolf spider genus Lycosa (Araneae: Lycosidae) in the western Mediterranean basin. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 67, 414-428. DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2013.02.006
- Rabaneda-Bueno, R., Rodríguez-Gironés, M.A., Aguado, S., Fernández-Montraveta, C., De Mas, E., Wise, D.H. & Moya-Laraño, J. (2008). Sexual cannibalism: High incidence in a natural population with benefits to females. PLoS ONE 3(10): e3484. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0003484
- Williams, J.L., Moya-Laraño, J & Wise, D.H. (2006). Burrow decorations as antipredatory devices. Behavioral Ecology, 17, 586-590. https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ark003