Phrurolithus

C. L. Koch, 1839

Phrurolithus is a of araneomorph and the largest genus in the Phrurolithidae, containing approximately 71 named . The genus has an almost exclusively Holarctic distribution, with species documented across the Palaearctic (34 species), Nearctic (35 species), and two species from Hispaniola. It is taxonomically unstable, having been transferred from Liocranidae to Corinnidae in 2002, then to the newly erected Phrurolithidae in 2014. The genus remains poorly studied: nearly half of species are known from only one sex, 45 species are known from original descriptions only, and one species has never been illustrated.

Phrurolithus by (c) Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Phrurolithus: /ˌfrʊrəˈlɪθəs/

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Identification

Phrurolithus are distinguished from other phrurolithid by genitalic characters, particularly male palpal and female epigynal . The genus can be separated from the closely related Otacilia by differences in the structure of the male tibial and female epigynal . Species-level identification requires examination of ; many species were described from single specimens or single sexes, making reliable identification difficult without reference to material.

Images

Distribution

Almost exclusively Holarctic. Palaearctic: Europe (including Corsica, Sardinia), Turkey, Caucasus, Russia (European to Far East), Kazakhstan, Iran, China, Korea, Japan, Central Asia. Nearctic: USA, Mexico, Canada (). Also recorded from Cuba and Hispaniola.

Similar Taxa

OtaciliaFormerly congeneric; two (O. hengshan, O. foveata) were transferred from Phrurolithus to Otacilia. Distinguished by male tibial and female epigynal structure.

More Details

Taxonomic instability

Phrurolithus has undergone multiple -level reassignments: originally placed in Liocranidae, transferred to Corinnidae in 2002, then to the newly erected Phrurolithidae in 2014 when that family was split from Corinnidae.

Knowledge gaps

Of 71 named , 23 are known from females only, 9 from males only, 45 are known from original description only, and one species has never been illustrated. No comprehensive revision of the exists.