Atypus piceus
Encyclopedia
Atypus piceus is a mygalomorph spider of the Atypidae family. It occurs in Europe
to Moldavia
, and Iran
and is the type species
of the genus Atypus.
, females up to 15 mm. 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 ten years.
).
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.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
to Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
, and Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and is the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of the genus Atypus.
Description
Males are about 10 mm long without cheliceraeChelicerae
The chelicerae are mouthparts of the Chelicerata, an arthropod subphylum that includes arachnids, Merostomata , and Pycnogonida . Chelicerae are pointed appendages which are used to grasp food, and are found in place of the chewing mandibles most other arthropods have...
, females up to 15 mm. 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 ten years.
Habits
Adults live in up to 30 cm deep tubes with a diameter of about 10 cm. The silken lining continues above ground for about 10 cm, 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 (ballooningBallooning (spider)
Ballooning is a term used for the mechanical kiting that many spiders, especially small species, as well as certain mites and some caterpillars use to disperse through the air. Many small spiders use gossamer or especially fine silk to lift themselves off a surface or use the silk as an anchor in...
).
Evolutionary relationship
A. piceus is possibly the result of hybridisation of A. affinisAtypus affinis
The Purseweb spider is a common mygalomorph spider from Europe, found mainly in southern England but ranging as far north as Denmark and as far south as North Africa. It is the only British mygalomorph spider....
and A. muralis
Atypus muralis
Atypus muralis is a mygalomorph spider from Central Europe to Turkmenistan. It is very similar to Atypus piceus, but the posterior spinnerets consist of four instead of three segments. They also build tubes that can be up to one meter deep....
. 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.