Titiotus

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Zoropsidae
Genus: Titiotus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Titiotus: /tɪˈtiːoʊtəs/

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

Images

Titiotus hansii, male (F Zoropsidae) (4498525537) by Marshal Hedin from San Diego, USA. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.

Titiotus shantzi 192596202 by Lightning $tar $ky / Skyler Noah Wall. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Summary

Titiotus is a genus of American false wolf spiders within the family Zoropsidae, first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1897. It contains sixteen species, all restricted to California, characterized by unique morphological features that distinguish them from closely related genera.

Physical Characteristics

Adult body length (excluding legs) of females: 11-21mm; males 8-17mm. Characterized by three claws plus claw tufts, differentiating them from most other North American spiders. Males have a tibial apophysis with three or four prongs; females have a wide median septum that typically occupies more than two-thirds of the epigynal width.

Identification Tips

Easily misidentified as brown recluse spiders due to similarities in coloration and body proportions.

Habitat

Commonly found in habitats within California, often in areas of dense human population, including redwood forests and cabins in the woods.

Distribution

All species are known only from the state of California, USA.

Health Concerns

Often misidentified as the brown recluse spider, which can lead to confusion.

Similar Taxa

Misconceptions

Members of the genus Titiotus are frequently confused with the brown recluse due to their physical similarities.