New arachnids suborder - Cancer arachnidae
Eukaryotic domain
animal kingdom
Subkingdom of eumetazoa
Ecdyanimal main phylum
Arthropod phylum
Subphylum Chelicera
Arachnids (Arachnida)
Araneae
Suborder Neoarachnidae
Cancer spider family
Cancer arachnidae
The family Sparassidae, formerly known as Heteropodidae, belongs to the family of Cancer spiders, which includes a variety of larger spiders. Its species are distributed in warm and tropical regions around the world, and more than 1,000 species have been named.
Cancer spiders are generally large, flat, long steps, stretched left and right, horizontal, similar to crab spiders, hence the name Cancer spiders. It is called a hunting spider because it is more predatory. It is also known as "Spider Escape" because of its agility and easy walking. There are 11 genera of Cancer spiders on the mainland, mainly distributed in the Eastern Ocean and Palaearctic realms.
1. Morphological characteristics
The body of the spider family Cancer spider is slightly elongated, the dorsal abdomen is flattened, and grayish-white to dark brown. The cephalothorax is connected to the abdomen by a ventral stalk, and the abdomen is not segmented. The dorsal surface of the cephalothorax is covered with a low, flat shield-like dorsal armor, the middle fossa is longitudinal, and the cervical sulcus and radial sulcus are distinct. There is a small , flattened thoracic plate on the ventral surface of the cephalothorax, and the front of the thoracic plate is the jaw lobe and the lower lip is bean-shaped, and the lower lip is generally wider than long and not longer than half the jaw lobe. The 8 eyes are arranged in 2 rows, and the size of the eyes, the distance between the eyes, and the concave curvature of the eye columns often differ between subfamilies, genera and species.
Jaw limb: generally stout, usually 2-3 teeth in the anterior tooth embankment, 2-6 teeth in the posterior tooth embankment, most with micro-teeth. The subfamily Heteropodinae usually have 3 anterior teeth and 4-6 posterior teeth with micro-teeth. Spasubfamily has 3 anterior teeth and 2-7 posterior teeth with smaller and no microdents. It has 2 anterior teeth, 3-6 posterior teeth, and no microdencies. It has 2 anterior teeth and 4-6 posterior teeth, with a large microtooth area in between.
Step foot: 4 pairs, generally long and stout, their relative length is expressed in the foot form, usually 2143 or 2413, indicating that step II foot is the longest and step III foot is the shortest. From the base to the end of the foot, the basal joint, the turntable joint, the leg segment, the knee segment, the tibial segment, the posterior tarsal segment, and the tarsal joint. The tarsal and posterior tarsal segments are hairy. The tarsal segment has claws, more or less toothed on it, and tufts of hair under the claws. The posterior tarsal segment has a three-lobed membrane at the end.
Three-lobed membrane: The posterior tarsal segment has a three-lobed membrane at the end, and the shape, length and length of the bilateral part of the middle part vary between subfamilies and genera and are more important classification basis. The two sides of the three-lobed membrane of the Spasubfamily are more than the middle part; The middle and sides of the three-lobed membrane of the subfamily Heteropodaceae are well developed; The middle part of the trilobed membrane of the subfamily Cancer spider exceeds the length of the sides; The discreet spider is more special, and the middle part of the three-lobed lamellar membrane is very small, which can be basically ignored; Jidun spiders, small spiders, are difficult to classify.
Abdomen: mostly oval, mostly striped on the back, usually with a black heart-shaped spot in the middle. There is a book lung on either side of the anterior end of the ventral surface, followed by a genital groove, in front of which the female spider has an external female organ. The abdomen has a pair of spinners at the end. Behind the spinning apparatus is the process.
Tentacles: Male tentacles are composed of basal ganglia, turntables, leg segments, knee segments, tibial segments, tarsal segments, of which tarsal joints are specialized, including "tarsal vessels", cavities formed by ventral surface invagination, and genital balls. The tip of the tarsal boat is elongated. The genital sphere is generally divided into partial insertors, guides, shields, and sub-shields. The ventral tibial process, located on the posterior surface of the tibia, occurs from the base of the tibia to the middle or mid to the apex. Its shape and position can also be used as a basis for classification.
External female: The opening on the ventral surface of the abdomen is a copulation hole, which expands to form a copulation cavity. The copulation hole, the copulation cavity, and the copulation tube faintly visible through the body wall together form the outer female of the spider. Inside it there are seminal vesicles, intercourse tubes connecting seminal vesicles and foramen, and fertilization ducts connecting seminal vesicles and fertilization holes. The above is collectively referred to as the internal structure of the outer female. The external female and the internal structure of the external female together constitute the external genitalia of the female spider.
2. Distribution range
China is located in eastern Asia, spanning the two major zoogeographic regions of the Palaearctic and Eastern boundaries, and spanning tropical, subtropical, temperate and cold zones in the north and south, with complex natural conditions, which has bred the genus and species diversity of spider resources of the Cancer spider family. Cancer spiders have been recorded worldwide, mainly distributed between 40°N and 40°S.
Among the 11 existing genera of the continental Cancer spider family, 4 genera are distributed in the Eastern and Palaearctic realms, including the genus Boudan, Heteropod, Pseudospider and Middle Spider. Another characteristic of the distribution of these four genera is that they are mainly distributed in the Qinghai-Tibet region in the Palaearctic boundary, mainly in central and southern China in the Eastern boundary, and not in the southwest region.
3. White-fronted Cancer spider
Heteropoda venatoria, also known as hunting cancer spiders or white-fronted tall spiders, is a large spider of the genus Cancer spider of the Cancer family Cancer spider family, native to tropical regions around the world, and in recent times due to human activities to expand to some subtropical regions, the world's most widely distributed Cancer spiders. It often inhabits indoor and outdoor walls. The type locality of this species may be in warmer regions of the Americas. It is a large indoor spider that spits silk when necessary but does not form a web, and is the main natural enemy of the household insect cockroach.
(1) Morphological characteristics
(1) Female spiders
The length of the female spider is 20~28 mm. The cephalothorax is grey-brown, slightly equal in length and width, the anterior margin is transverse, the middle fossa is longitudinal and dark, and the cervical sulcus and radial sulcus are obvious. There is a transverse stripe of short white hairs [2] between the eyes and forehead, and the dorsal armor is approximately square, with a gray-yellow transverse band on the posterior edge. Markings made up of dark brown hairs on both sides of the chest. The head is elongated forward, the anterior line is straight, and the eye area is brown. 8 eyes in two rows, homotype, anterior eye column slightly anteriorly curved, posterior eye column straight and longer than anterior eye column, slightly posteriorly curved. The anterior middle eye is smaller than the anterior middle eye, the anterior middle eye distance is greater than the anterior middle eye distance, the posterior middle eye distance is less than the posterior middle and lateral eye distance, the posterior middle eye is slightly larger than the posterior middle eye, and there is an eye mound. The chelicerae are dark brown, densely covered with long brown hairs, and the lateral nodules are distinct. The front tooth embankment has 2 teeth and the rear tooth embankment has 3 teeth. The thoracic plate is longer than wide, yellowish brown, sparsely brown with long hairs, the anterior margin is slightly concave, the posterior margin is pointed and thin, inserted between the basal segments of step IV. The footsteps are stout, grey-brown, with dark, light-colored long and short hairs, and black-brown spots, each with 1 black thorn. The foot poses are 2, 1, 4, 3. The dorsal surface of the abdomen is brown with fine gray, white, and brown hairs forming an arrowtail-like marking. The ventral surface of the abdomen is light brown. Spinners brown.
(2) Male spiders
The length of the male spider is 15~20 mm. It is clearly distinguished from the female spider, and the posterior part of the dorsal carapace has a pair of butterfly markings from the middle fossa, neck sulcus, radial groove, and all the way to the posterior edge of the dorsal carapace. The ventral dorsal markings are inverted in the shape of an "eight". The hairs on both sides of the abdomen are long and dense.
(2) Habits
The white-fronted Cancer spider has a flattened shape, which allows it to burrow into small crevices and prefer shady places. The white-fronted tall spider is about 20mm~30mm long, the total length (including feet) is about 100mm~130mm, and it is about the size of a CD when it opens its feet, which is the largest indoor inhabiting spider in Taiwan; There is a yellow-white transverse band on the anterior and posterior edges of the cephalothorax; For nocturnal animals, catching cockroaches or flying insects.
During the breeding season, the mother will wrap the eggs in silk and hang them on the abdomen and drag them around at any time.
White-fronted cancer spiders are quite weak spiders, and humans will only be painful and not life-threatening after being bitten. And the white-fronted tall spider is timid by nature and will actively run away when it sees humans approaching. The white-fronted cancer spider is considered valuable in the tropics because it mainly feeds on insects such as cockroaches, flies, moths, etc., and can eliminate pests in the home; The amount of food is not large, and it can last for a week without eating after preying on larger American cockroaches. Some people also posted videos on the Internet and found that white-fronted cancer spiders also prey on mice.
White-fronted cancer spiders spit silk but do not form webs, and do not have the habit of fixed habitat, so when household pests such as cockroaches are eaten, white-fronted cancer spiders that have lost their food source will leave. But in general, the cockroaches at home simply cannot be eaten, so the white-fronted cancer spider rarely leaves, and even breeds at home.
(3) Breeding methods
The spider lays eggs in May~June, and each female spider can breed 500~600 young spiders. 600 spiders lay 1 gram of eggs at a time.
(4) Habitat
White-fronted cancer spiders are widely distributed in low-altitude mountainous and flat areas, and are commonly found in houses and exterior walls near rice and cotton fields.
(5) Distribution range
China Sichuan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Taiwan, Guangdong, Tibet, Yunnan, etc.
4. Grynolds Cancer spider
Heteropoda grahami is a species of cancer spider in the family Heteropodae. In China, it is distributed in Sichuan and other places, often inhabiting shrubs and house walls. The type locality of this species is in Sichuan.
Morphological characteristics: dorsal carapace light reddish brown, square head, middle fossa, cervical sulcus, radial sulcus tan. There are 2 small brown spots close together in front of the middle fossa, one fine brown stripe protruding forward from between the two spots, and the other protruding from the outer middle of the brown spot, brown stripes, first slightly outward, then turning forward, each with the markings sticking out behind the back of the eye. The edges of the dorsal armor also have fine brown longitudinal stripes. The eye area is black-brown with anterior lines, and it is densely covered with long brown hairs. 3 teeth of the front tooth embankment, the second tooth is the largest; The posterior embankment has 3 teeth, and the proximal end 1 tooth is the smallest and is juxtaposed with the first tooth of the anterior embankment. The jaw lobes and lower lip are light reddish-brown. The thoracic plate is heart-shaped, yellow, covered with small brown spots and fine hairs. The footsteps are light reddish-brown with brown spots and long hairs and spines, and the spines are large. Steps 1, 2, and 3 have a large brown spot opposite the basal segment of the foot. The posterior tarsal and tarsal segments have gray hairs. There are tufts of hair under the claws. Abdomen ovate, light reddish-brown, with brown markings and fine gray hairs, central heart stripe, 2 pairs of light-colored tendon spots on both sides, 6 mountain-shaped markings behind the heart spot, the first 3 brown, the same size, the last 3 light brown, gradually smaller. The ventral surface of the abdomen is pale yellow , with brown spots and fine hairs , and a broad brown stripe in the center that extends to the tan arrow of the former emperor of the spinning vessel. The antennae are 6.5 mm long, with a protrusion on the lateral surface of the tibia, and a small piece with a pointed end can be seen on the ventral side of its base, divided into 2 dorsal parts, the outer 1 is triangular, the tip points to the medial, and the medial 1 is narrow, finger-shaped, and the end is a cross-section.
5. Nyalam Cancer spider
The Nyalam Cancer spider (scientific name: Heteropoda nyalamus) is a species of cancer spider in the family Neopodae. In China, it is distributed in Tibet and other places, and is mostly found in the gaps in the courtyard walls and the stone walls of highway bridges. The type locality of this species is in Tibet.
(1) Female spiders
Body length 26.20 mm. The cephalothorax are light yellow, slightly longer than wide, covered with black hairs, the neck, middle fossa and radial sulcus are brown, and there is an inverted triangular dark spot immediately before the middle fossa; Beginning after the middle fossa, there is a black stripe extending posteriorly, the dorsal carapace is black-brown and densely covered with black hairs, the head is slightly raised, the eye area is brown, and the black mane is sparse, and there is a black reticulation behind the eye area and between the radial grooves. 8 eyes and 2 rows, the anterior middle eye is the smallest, the anterior eye column is straight and shorter than the posterior eye column, the anterior middle eye is smaller than the anterior middle eye, and the anterior middle eye distance is greater than the anterior middle eye distance; The posterior eye column is slightly curved posteriorly, the posterior middle eye is smaller than the posterior eye, and the posterior middle eye distance is smaller than the posterior middle eye distance. The middle eye area is longer than wide, and the anterior edge is smaller than the posterior edge. The chelicerae are brown with 3 teeth on the front embankment and 4 teeth on the posterior embankment. The jaw lobes are light yellow. The lower lip is about equal in length and width and is the same color as the jaw lobe. The thorax is yellowish-white with long brown hairs. The foot is light yellow, with brown wheel pattern, many black spines, 4 pairs of dorsal spines on the 1~2nd leg segment, and 1 pair of spines on the dorsal side of the knee segment; The tibia has 3 pairs of dorsal spines and 4 pairs of ventral spines; The posterior tarsal segment has 1 pair of spines on the dorsal side and 2 pairs of spines on the ventral surface. The posterior tarsal and tarsal segments of each step foot have black foot hair bundles. Foot pose: 2, 1, 4, 3. The abdomen is oblong-oval, the dorsal surface is grey-brown, densely covered with black spots, and there are 2 pairs of muscle spots in the center of the anterior half, surrounded by black fine hairs, and expand to form 4 round black spots; In addition, there is a "human" glyph dark spot in the center of the tail. The ventral surface of the abdomen is grey-brown with a pair of black lines between the external gastric area and the spinning apparatus, and a white thread on each side of it is juxtaposed with it. Spinners brown.
(2) Male spiders
Body length 22.80 mm. The tarsal boat of the tentacles is blackish brown with a tumor-like bump on the outside of its base, and the outer terminal horn of the tibia is thick black in color and has a bird's beak. All other morphological structures are identical to females.
6. Hunter spiders
The hunter spider (scientific name: Sparassidae Bertkau), also transliterated as Huntsman spider, belongs to the Cancer spider family (Sparassoidea), is a giant spider native to Australia, which is relied on by local aborigines as meat. He is known as a hunter for his quick hunting skills.
Hunter spiders live in woody habitats and feed on mosquitoes. But hunter spiders do not hunt with webs like ordinary spiders, but forage with fast hunting skills. Like other spiders of the same complex genitalia, the hunter spider is also an eight-eyed spider. It has been found in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, Florida, and Hawaii, and may be found in many other tropical and subtropical regions, although its whereabouts are hidden and therefore difficult to find.
(1) Reproductive habits
Hunter spiders have 8 long legs. It does not usually weave webs and does not spit silk as often as other spiders. But in order to reproduce, they carefully weave colorful egg bags to protect the eggs. The egg bag looks like an upside-down balloon and is about the size of a goose egg. The hunter spider uses filament to connect branches and leaves, first build a rack, and then weave a bag with an opening on it, and many eggs fall into the bag after they are born, and the eggs laid are just enough to fill the pocket. Then weave a cap at the mouth of the bag. The eggs spend the winter in this carefully woven bag. By the spring of the following year, the little spiders opened the lid of the bag, climbed up, and started their new life.
(2) Purpose
(1) Mosquito catcher
Because Australia's local mosquitoes are very rampant and always affect local residents to sleep poorly at night, they have come up with a very good way, that is, to ask hunter spiders who stay up all night to keep vigil. The hunter spider is very faithful to his duties, he stays up all night, and can quickly destroy all the mosquitoes that dare to attack in the dark, so that the owner of the mosquito net can sleep peacefully. Therefore, some people call it the "guardian" in dreams.
(2) Edible value
Because the large hunter spider weighs half a kilogram and contains a lot of protein in its body, the local indigenous people like to eat it very much and regard it as a delicacy.
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