Kingdom Animalia Class Arachnida Phylum Arthropoda Order Spider | Subphylum Chelicerata Infraorder Araneomorphae Rank Family | |
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Similar Cycloctenidae, Austrochilidae, Stenochilidae, Synotaxidae, Senoculidae | ||
The Cithaeronidae are a small spider family with only seven described species in two genera.
Contents
Biology
Cithaeronidae are fast-moving spiders that actively hunt at night. They rest during the day in silken retreats they construct below rocks. Female Cithaeron are about 5 to 7 mm long, males about 4 mm. They are pale yellowish, and have a preference for very hot, dry stony places.
Distribution
While Inthaeron occurs only in India, members of the genus Cithaeron can be found in Africa, India and parts of Eurasia. Three adult females of C. praedonius were found in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. As they were found in and near human housings, they presumably were accidentally introduced. This is probably also the case for finds in the Northern Territory of Australia.
Another population of C. praedonius has been discovered in Florida U.S.A., with reports of a stable breeding population.(Pers. comm. Joseph Stiles)
Species
Cithaeron O. P-Cambridge, 1872
Inthaeron Platnick, 1991