Grassland funnel web spider | Hippasa sp.
Hippasa sp. (Family: Lycosidae)
Common Name: Grassland funnel web spider
Size: Female 10-12 mm, Male 6-8 mm
Family identification features: Lycosidae is a worldwide family of ground-living spiders. Most are free living and are the most likely to be encountered in the field. They will be seen running away through the grass as one walks along. They are commonly known as wolf spiders because they run down their prey. Although lycosids are not too difficult to recognise in the field, the taxonomy of the family is still far from settled.
Cephalothorax longer than wide, narrower and higher in cephalic region; fovea elongated; carapace covered with dense setae; sternum oval shaped. Eyes eight in three rows of 4, 2, 2; all dark in colour, unequal in size; anterior row with four small eyes lying in straight or often slightly curved line, second row with two large eyes which approximately as wide as front row and third row with two eyes of intermediate size which is as wide as or usually wider than second row situated on anterolateral surface of carapace. Labium as wide as long, half the length of maxillae. Chelicerae strong with toothed furrow and condyles. Legs three clawed, usually with scopulae and spines; trochanters notched. Abdomen oval and covered with densesetae. Some species with characteristic hairs over the surface of the abdomen for carrying spiderlings on the body of mother. Spinnerets are of usual type; colulus absent. Epigyne generally complex with a well sclerotised median septum. Male palp withouttibial apophyses and with varying embolus. Females carry their cocoons attached to the spinnerets. Abdomen often brownish or greyish in colour, some are sandy coloured with cryptically marked abdomen while some small species are brown to almost black in colour.
Most members of this family are free running. In relatively undisturbed open areas, they are the commonest spiders likely to be encountered in the field. Larger lycosids make burrows in the ground or scrapes under stones. Others make silken webs and retreats in the grass, whilst some of the smaller species do not make webs at all. Females of many small lycosid species attach the egg sac to their spinnerets and carry them under their abdomen. These eggs sacs are often white or light coloured and often larger than the females abdomen. The young spiderlings climb onto the mothersback after emerging from the egg sac where they remain until the second moult. They do not eat during the time when the young are attached to the body of their mother. These spiders are real hunters and have excellent eyesight. The spider vigorously attacks her prey crushing it with her stout chelicerae. Most species hunt during day, but some are nocturnal. When at rest, they are usually found under stones or debris on the ground. They have good vision and their sense of touch is highly developed. Contrary to the common belief, recent studies indicate that they adopt a sit and wait strategy for feeding. Prey is grabbed with the legs, forming a basket around the prey before it is bitten. This is the fifth dominant diverse family in India. A total of 126 species of 17 genera coming under 4 subfamilies are reported from India so far. Among these, Hippasa and Lycosa belong to the subfamily Lycosinae and Pardosa belongs to the subfamily Pardosinae.
Genus identification features: This genus is allied to Lycosabut differs from it in having diverging superior spinnerets, posterior spinnerets considerably longer than the anterior spinnerets and the apical piece of the posterior is as long as the basal piece. Anterior row of eyes a little wider than the second row and the space enclosed between the posterior eyes is much wider behind than in front. In almost all species, a black midlongitudinal band is present on thesternum. Legs are vaguely annulated and dark brown in colour. Carapace is longer than wide with the cephalic part pale, and with broad pale submarginal bands and dark streaks radiating from near the fovea. Abdomen is elongate, oval; both the brown cardiacmark and 5 pairs of adjacent light spots are all edged with dark, olive brown border. Sides of the abdomen with one or two longitudinal lines of olive brown streaks. In habits, these spiders are typical for the family. They build sheet like webs with a funnel retreat over which they run like members of the family Agelenidae, hence the name Hippasa agelenoidesis given by Simon to the type species of the genus. On misty mornings, numerous dew-covered webs can be seen sparkling in the sunlight. A total of 17 species are reported from India so far.
Contributed By : Sudhikumar A.V.
Common Name: Grassland funnel web spider
Size: Female 10-12 mm, Male 6-8 mm
Family identification features: Lycosidae is a worldwide family of ground-living spiders. Most are free living and are the most likely to be encountered in the field. They will be seen running away through the grass as one walks along. They are commonly known as wolf spiders because they run down their prey. Although lycosids are not too difficult to recognise in the field, the taxonomy of the family is still far from settled.
Cephalothorax longer than wide, narrower and higher in cephalic region; fovea elongated; carapace covered with dense setae; sternum oval shaped. Eyes eight in three rows of 4, 2, 2; all dark in colour, unequal in size; anterior row with four small eyes lying in straight or often slightly curved line, second row with two large eyes which approximately as wide as front row and third row with two eyes of intermediate size which is as wide as or usually wider than second row situated on anterolateral surface of carapace. Labium as wide as long, half the length of maxillae. Chelicerae strong with toothed furrow and condyles. Legs three clawed, usually with scopulae and spines; trochanters notched. Abdomen oval and covered with densesetae. Some species with characteristic hairs over the surface of the abdomen for carrying spiderlings on the body of mother. Spinnerets are of usual type; colulus absent. Epigyne generally complex with a well sclerotised median septum. Male palp withouttibial apophyses and with varying embolus. Females carry their cocoons attached to the spinnerets. Abdomen often brownish or greyish in colour, some are sandy coloured with cryptically marked abdomen while some small species are brown to almost black in colour.
Most members of this family are free running. In relatively undisturbed open areas, they are the commonest spiders likely to be encountered in the field. Larger lycosids make burrows in the ground or scrapes under stones. Others make silken webs and retreats in the grass, whilst some of the smaller species do not make webs at all. Females of many small lycosid species attach the egg sac to their spinnerets and carry them under their abdomen. These eggs sacs are often white or light coloured and often larger than the females abdomen. The young spiderlings climb onto the mothersback after emerging from the egg sac where they remain until the second moult. They do not eat during the time when the young are attached to the body of their mother. These spiders are real hunters and have excellent eyesight. The spider vigorously attacks her prey crushing it with her stout chelicerae. Most species hunt during day, but some are nocturnal. When at rest, they are usually found under stones or debris on the ground. They have good vision and their sense of touch is highly developed. Contrary to the common belief, recent studies indicate that they adopt a sit and wait strategy for feeding. Prey is grabbed with the legs, forming a basket around the prey before it is bitten. This is the fifth dominant diverse family in India. A total of 126 species of 17 genera coming under 4 subfamilies are reported from India so far. Among these, Hippasa and Lycosa belong to the subfamily Lycosinae and Pardosa belongs to the subfamily Pardosinae.
Hippasa Simon, 1885
Genus identification features: This genus is allied to Lycosabut differs from it in having diverging superior spinnerets, posterior spinnerets considerably longer than the anterior spinnerets and the apical piece of the posterior is as long as the basal piece. Anterior row of eyes a little wider than the second row and the space enclosed between the posterior eyes is much wider behind than in front. In almost all species, a black midlongitudinal band is present on thesternum. Legs are vaguely annulated and dark brown in colour. Carapace is longer than wide with the cephalic part pale, and with broad pale submarginal bands and dark streaks radiating from near the fovea. Abdomen is elongate, oval; both the brown cardiacmark and 5 pairs of adjacent light spots are all edged with dark, olive brown border. Sides of the abdomen with one or two longitudinal lines of olive brown streaks. In habits, these spiders are typical for the family. They build sheet like webs with a funnel retreat over which they run like members of the family Agelenidae, hence the name Hippasa agelenoidesis given by Simon to the type species of the genus. On misty mornings, numerous dew-covered webs can be seen sparkling in the sunlight. A total of 17 species are reported from India so far.
Contributed By : Sudhikumar A.V.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home