Cyclocosmia
| Cyclocosmia | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Cyclocosmia truncata | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Family: | Ctenizidae |
| Genus: |
Cyclocosmia Ausserer, 1871 |
| Type species | |
|
Mygale truncata Hentz, 1841 |
|
| Species | |
|
See text. |
|
| Diversity | |
| 8 species | |
See text.
Cyclocosmia or "trapdoor spider" is a genus of spiders in the Ctenizidae family.
The abdomen of spiders in this genus is abruptly truncated and ends in a hardened disc which is strengthened by a system of ribs and grooves. They use this to clog the entrance of their 7 to 15 cm deep vertical burrows when threatened, a phenomenon called phragmosis. Strong spines are located around the edge of the disk. The four spinnerets are found just anterior to it, with the posterior, retractable spinnerets particularly large. C. ricketti females are 28 mm long, with a disk diameter of 16 mm. Only the bottom portion of the burrow is silk lined.
The species in this genus are distinguished from each other by the pattern of the abdominal disk, the number of hairs on its seam, and the shape of the spermathecae.
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