Tengellidae

Common Name

No common name

Overview

Tengellidae is a family of araneomorph spiders that was previously recognized in various taxonomic classifications but is no longer valid. Members of this family have been redistributed into other families, such as Zoropsidae.

Taxonomy

• Kingdom : Animalia
• Phylum : Arthropoda
• Class : Arachnida
• Order : Araneae
• Superfamily : Lycosoidea (synonym: Zoropsidoidea)
• Family : Tengellidae (no longer valid)

Key Characteristics

As the family Tengellidae is no longer valid, there are no defining characteristics. The spiders that were previously included in this family generally had the following features during their reclassification:

• Medium-sized to large spiders
• Eight eyes arranged in two rows
• Robust body structures
• Distinctive spinneret morphology

Life Cycle

Life cycles of spiders previously classified under Tengellidae follow the general spider life cycle:

• Eggs : Laid in silken sacs.
• Spiderlings : Hatch from eggs and go through several molts before becoming adults.
• Adults : Reach maturity after a series of molts.

Behavior and Ecology

The ecological roles and behaviors of spiders formerly in the Tengellidae family include:

• Nocturnal hunting patterns
• Building retreats or burrows
• Preying on insects and other small arthropods

Notable Species

Since Tengellidae is an obsolete family classification, notable species have been reclassified into other families:

• Titiotus spp. : Now part of the Zoropsidae family.

Conservation

There are no specific conservation measures for Tengellidae as a family, since it is no longer in use. Individual species now fall under the conservation status relevant to their current recognized families.

Significance to Humans

Spiders that were once considered part of Tengellidae, now reclassified, generally pose little threat to humans. They play a role in controlling insect populations.

Fun Facts

• Some spiders previously classified under Tengellidae are known for their wandering, hunting behavior, rather than spinning elaborate webs.
• The family Tengellidae was first established by R.V. Chamberlin, an eminent American arachnologist.
• The reclassification of Tengellidae into other families is part of the ongoing efforts of taxonomists to better understand arachnid phylogeny through molecular and morphological studies.