Araneus
| Araneus | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| European garden spider (Araneus diadematus) | |
 |
|
| Four-spot orb-weaver (Araneus quadratus) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Suborder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Araneidae |
| Genus: |
Araneus Clerck, 1758 |
| Type species | |
|
Araneus diadematus Clerck, 1758 |
|
| Species | |
|
A. alsine |
|
| Diversity | |
| c. 650 species | |
A. alsine
A. angulatus
A. asiaticus
A. bradleyi
A. cavaticus
A. cinnabarinus
A. diadematus
A. gemma
A. gemmoides
A. illaudatus
A. marmoreus
A. mitificus
A. quadratus
A. viridiventris
hundreds of others, see list
Araneus is a genus of common orb-weaving spiders. It includes about 650 species, among which are the European garden spider and the barn spider.
Spiders of this genus present perhaps the most obvious case of sexual dimorphism among all of the orb-weaver family, with males being normally 1⁄3 to 1⁄4 the size of females. In A. diadematus, for example, last molt females can reach the body size of up to 1 in (2.5 cm), while most males seldom grow over 0.3 in (1 cm), both excluding legspan. Males are differentiated from females by a much smaller and more elongated abdomen, longer legs, and the inability to catch or consume prey bigger than themselves.
In females, the epigyne has a long scape (a tongue-like appendage). Male pedipalps have a hook-like terminal apophysis. Abdominal tubercles are present anterolaterally.
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Wikipedia