Progradungula | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Araneae |
Suborder: | Araneomorphae |
Family: | Gradungulidae |
Genus: |
Progradungula Forster & Gray, 1979 |
Species | |
See text. |
|
Diversity | |
2 species |
See text.
Progradungula is a spider genus of the family Gradungulidae. It is remarkable for being the first web-building cribellate spider that was found within a "primitive" araneomorph spider family. This helped to establish the idea that all araneomorph spiders evolved from cribellate ancestors. This genus is endemic to parts of Australia.
The generic name is derived from Latin pro ("before"), and the genus name Gradungula, referring to the ancient ancestry of the genus.