Trachelidae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Trachelidae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Trachelidae: /træˈkiːlɪˌdaɪ/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Meriola californica 3 by CBG Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics. Used under a CC BY-SA 3.0 license.

Meriola californica 2 by CBG Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics. Used under a CC0 license.

Meriola californica 1 by CBG Photography Group, Centre for Biodiversity Genomics. Used under a CC0 license.

Trachelas pacificus, male (F Corinnidae) by Marshal Hedin. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Common Spiders U.S. 066 by James Henry Emerton (1847 – 1931). Used under a Public domain license.

Broad faced sac spider (Trachelas tranquillus) by WanderingMogwai. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Summary

Trachelidae is a family of araneomorph spiders known as ground sac spiders, characterized by their small size, coloration, and reduction of leg spines. They are part of the RTA clade and are primarily wandering spiders not associated with webs.

Physical Characteristics

3-10mm in length; red cephalothorax; yellow/tan abdomen; legs without spines.

Identification Tips

To distinguish Trachelas from Meriola, observe the posterior row of eyes: in Meriola, the eyes are more closely spaced and straighter, while in Trachelas, they are widely spaced with the PLEs set further back, giving a recurved appearance when viewed from above.

Habitat

Commonly found indoors; detailed habitat information not available.

Distribution

11 species in 2 genera found in North America; specific species distribution includes: Meriola arcifera (Chile, Bolivia, Argentina; introduced to USA), Meriola californica (USA, Mexico), Meriola decepta (USA to Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil), Trachelas huachucanus (USA, Mexico), Trachelas mexicanus (USA, Mexico), Trachelas pacificus (USA, Mexico), Trachelas similis (USA to Costa Rica), Trachelas tranquillus (USA, Canada), Trachelas volutus (USA, Mexico).

Evolution

Initially described as a subfamily "Tracheleae" by Eugène Simon in 1897; emerged as a distinct family after analyses in 2001 and 2014 suggested separation from Corinnidae.