Atypus piceus

Atypus piceus is a mygalomorph spider of the family Atypidae. It occurs in Europe to Moldavia, and Iran and is the type species of the genus Atypus.

Atypus piceus
Atypus piceus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Arachnida
Order:
Araneae
Suborder:
Mygalomorphae
Family:
Atypidae
Genus:
Atypus
Species:
A. piceus
Binomial name
Atypus piceus
(Sulzer, 1776)
Synonyms

Aranea picea
Aranea subterranea
Aranea aquatica
Atypus sulzeri
Oletera piceus
Atypus beckii
Proatypus thaleri

Description

Males are about 10 mm (0.39 in) long without chelicerae, females up to 15 mm (0.59 in). Males are of a deep black, while spiderlings and females are dark brown with a violet hue. The very long posterior spinnerets consist of three segments, the last segment features a light blot, which is helpful in identifying the species. A. piceus can live for more than 10 years.[1]

Habits

Adults live in up to 30 centimetres (12 in) deep tubes with a diameter of about 10 mm. The silken lining continues above ground for about 10 centimetres (3.9 in), where it is camouflaged with matter from the vicinity. The mating period is from June to July, when the males search for females. The spiderlings hatch during autumn and overwinter in the mother's burrow without feeding. After emerging in spring, they climb nearby plants and use strands of silk to fly away (ballooning).

Evolutionary relationship

A. piceus is possibly the result of hybridisation of A. affinis and A. muralis. A. muralis has posterior spinnerets with four segments, A. affinis with three, and A. piceus has three, but the white blot could be result of this hybridisation.[1]

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References
  1. Bellmann, H. (1997). Kosmos-Atlas Spinnentiere Europas. Kosmos.
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