Mecynargus

Kulczyński, 1894

dwarf spiders

Species Guides

1

Mecynargus is a of dwarf spiders in the Linyphiidae, first described in 1894. The genus contains fifteen recognized distributed across and montane regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Species occur in Europe, Asia, and North America, with several exhibiting transcontinental ranges. Many species are associated with cool, moist including sphagnum bogs and tundra.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Mecynargus: /mɛˈkɪnɑːrɡəs/

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Habitat

Many are associated with sphagnum bogs, montane environments, and tundra regions. Specific associations include: M. sphagnicola in sphagnum moss; M. monticola in mountain habitats; M. tundricola in tundra; M. hypnicola and M. pinipumilis in forest floor moss layers. The shows a pronounced affinity for cool, moist microhabitats across its range.

Distribution

Holarctic distribution spanning Europe, northern Asia, and North America. European range includes France, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe, Ukraine, and Russia (European to Far East). Asian distribution extends through Siberia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and China. North American records from Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. Several exhibit transcontinental distributions (M. borealis, M. monticola, M. morulus, M. paetulus, M. sphagnicola, M. tungusicus).

More Details

Taxonomic History

First described by C. Chyzer and Władysław Kulczyński in 1894. The type , Mecynargus longus, was originally described by Kulczyński in 1882.

Species Diversity

Fifteen recognized as of 2019. Several species were transferred from other or described relatively recently (M. minutipalpis 2011, M. minutus 2013).

Conservation Status

No -level conservation assessments available. Many species have restricted ranges or specialized requirements that may warrant monitoring.

Sources and further reading