Psellocoptus
| Psellocoptus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Corinnidae |
| Genus: | Psellocoptus Simon, 1896 |
| Species | |
|
See text. | |
| Diversity | |
| 3 species | |
Psellocoptus is a genus of running spiders (family Corinnidae, formerly Clubionidae) that is endemic to Venezuela. When Eugène Simon discovered the first species (P. flavostriatus), he described it as a "beautiful and large species from the forests of Venezuela which [is] found running rapidly on the trunks of trees". The two other species, found in 1971, are very similar to the first, while the whole genus is quite distinct from any other genus in general form and characteristics. It probably became isolated from the more widespread genera Myrmecium and Castianeira.
Description
While the similar genera Myrmecium and Sphecotypus also have indented carapaces, Psellocoptus has a rounded anterior end and a relatively "unsegmented" red-brown, shiny, slightly granulated carapace.
Species
- Psellocoptus buchlii Reiskind, 1971 (Venezuela)
- Psellocoptus flavostriatus Simon, 1896 (Venezuela)
- Psellocoptus prodontus Reiskind, 1971 (Venezuela)
Names
The species name flavostriatus means "striped yellow". P. buchlii is named after the late Harro Buchli; the species name prodontus is from the Greek meaning "tooth in front".
References
- Reiskind, J. (1971). The South American Castianeirinae. I. The Genus Psellocoptus (Araneae: Clubionidae). Psyche 78:193-202 PDF (with key to males and females)