Hahniidae
| Dwarf sheet spider | |
|---|---|
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| Cryphoeca silvicola | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: |
Hahniidae Bertkau, 1878 |
| Genera | |
|
See text. |
|
| Diversity | |
| 26 genera, 235 species | |
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|
See text.
The dwarf sheet spiders (family Hahniidae) are small spiders, their bodies are about 2 mm in length. They build extremely delicate webs in the form of a sheet, and unlike many spiders the web does not lead to a retreat. The silk used in these webs is so fine that they are difficult to spot unless they are coated with dew. They greatly favor locations near water or near moss, and are often found in leaf litter and detritus or on the leaves of shrubs and trees.
They are characterized by the arrangement of their six spinnerets in a transverse row. The last segment of the outer spinnerets is quite long and stands out above all the others.
Hahniidae are a worldwide family. The genera of the Northern Hemisphere and Africa tend to differ in their genital structures from those of the Southern Hemisphere. Very few species have been described from south east Asia, although quite a number seems to be yet undescribed.
The family is named after the type genus Hahnia, which is dedicated to German zoologist Carl Wilhelm Hahn.
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Wikipedia