Dwarf tarantulas, also known as sheet funnel-web spiders, are a type of spider from the family Mecicobothriidae. Dwarf tarantulas are one of several families of the suborder Mygalomorphae; this larger group also includes the true tarantulas.

Description

Dwarf tarantulas, as the name indicates, appear very similar to tarantulas, but are physically much smaller. Many specimens are smaller than 1cm in length, and the largest in the family are rarely bigger than 2cm. The spiders, like all Mygalomorphae, have downward pointing fangs; dwarf tarantulas also have long spinnerets.

Genera

, this family includes one genus and two species:

Mecicobothrium Holmberg, 1882

• Mecicobothrium baccai Lucas et al., 2006 – Brazil

• Mecicobothrium thorelli Holmberg, 1882 – Argentina, Uruguay

Genera moved to other families include:

• Hexura Simon, 1884 → Antrodiaetidae

• Hexurella Gertsch & Platnick, 1979 → Hexurellidae

• Megahexura Kaston, 1972 → Megahexuridae

See also

• Spider families

References

• Costa, F.G. & Pérez-Miles, F. (1998). Behavior, life cycle, and webs of Mecicobothrium thorelli, The Journal of Arachnology 26:317-329 PDF

• Gertsch, W.G. & Platnick, N.I. (1979). A revision of the spider family Mecicobothriidae (Araneae, Mygalomorphae). American Museum Novitates 2687 PDF (14Mb) - Abstract

External links