Sicariidae
Sicariidae
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Chelicerata
- Class: Arachnida
- Order: Araneae
- Infraorder: Araneomorphae
- Family: Sicariidae
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Sicariidae: /sɪˈkæri.aɪˌdiː/
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
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Summary
Sicariidae is a family of spiders known for their venomous bites, with potential to cause severe injury. They have distinctive physical features and a particular ecological role within their habitats.
Physical Characteristics
Members of the family Sicariidae have six eyes arranged in three groups of two (dyads). Violin spiders (Loxosceles) are usually brownish with a darker brown violin marking on the cephalothorax. Hexophthalma and Sicarius lack this marking and have a resemblance to crab spiders.
Identification Tips
Look for the characteristic violin marking on the cephalothorax of Loxosceles species. Other genera like Hexophthalma and Sicarius can be identified by their habitat in desert regions and their lack of such markings.
Habitat
Loxosceles species are found in warmer areas nearly worldwide. Hexophthalma and Sicarius live in the deserts of southern Africa and southern to central America, respectively.
Distribution
Almost worldwide for Loxosceles, particularly in warmer areas; Hexophthalma is distributed in Namibia and South Africa; Sicarius occurs in South and Central America.
Diet
Carnivorous, feeding on insects and other small arthropods.
Life Cycle
Most Loxosceles spiders generally have a lifespan of one and a half to two years, while members of Hexophthalma and Sicarius can live up to fifteen years.
Reproduction
Most have haplogyne female genitalia, indicating simpler reproductive structures.
Ecosystem Role
As predators, they play a role in controlling insect populations.
Economic Impact
Potential negative impact due to bites leading to necrotic wounds, which can necessitate medical treatment.
Cultural Significance
Often associated with fear due to their venomous bites, particularly the brown recluse spider.
Health Concerns
Bites from these spiders can be necrotic and cause serious health issues; some species display venomous properties affecting blood cells and causing lesions.
Collecting Methods
- Hand collecting
- Pitfall traps
- Sweep nets
Preservation Methods
- Ethanol preservation
- Freezing
- Pinning
Evolution
The family was first described by Eugen von Keyserling in 1880 and has undergone reclassification and revision since then, including a phylogenetic study in 2017 that placed African Sicarius in the revived genus Hexophthalma.
Similar Taxa
- Sicarius ornatus
- Loxosceles laeta
- Hexophthalma species
Misconceptions
There is a common misconception that all bites from brown recluse spiders are necrotic; however, not all bites lead to serious injury.
Tags
- Sicariidae
- venomous spiders
- necrotic bite
- Loxosceles
- Hexophthalma
- Sicarius