Spiracme
Menge, 1876
Spiracme is a of crab in the Thomisidae, erected by Anton Menge in 1876. The genus has undergone extensive taxonomic revision, with frequently transferred between it and related genera Xysticus and Ozyptila. A 2019 study by Rainer Breitling helped clarify relationships among these genera. As of January 2026, the genus comprises ten species, including S. striata (the type species) and S. mongolica, which was transferred from Xysticus and represents the first Central European record for the genus.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Spiracme: /ˈspɪ.ræk.mi/
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Identification
Distinguished from the closely related Xysticus and Ozyptila by characteristics of the male copulatory organs; specific diagnostic features include particular arrangements of embolus and conductor structures. -level identification requires examination of genital .
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Habitat
within this occupy xerothermic (dry, warm) . Spiracme mongolica has been documented in sand dune environments, suggesting a preference for arid, open habitats with sandy substrates.
Distribution
The has a Palearctic distribution. Spiracme mongolica ranges from the Balkans and southeastern Europe through central Asia (including Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China); the Slovakian record represents the westernmost known occurrence. Other occur across Europe and Asia.
Similar Taxa
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Taxonomic instability
The has experienced significant nomenclatural flux, with moved repeatedly between Spiracme, Xysticus, and Ozyptila. The 2019 study by Breitling provided molecular evidence to support current generic boundaries.
Type species
S. striata, originally described in Xysticus and transferred to Spiracme when the was erected.