Atypus karschi

Atypus karschi
A. karschi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Suborder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Atypidae
Genus: Atypus
Species: A. karschi
Binomial name
Atypus karschi
(Dönitz, 1887)

Atypus karschi is a mygalomorph spider that lives in Japan, China, and Taiwan. In Japan, it is known as ji-gumo.

These spiders are black or dark brown and range from 17 to 20 mm. Like other spiders in its infraorder, it has fangs that point straight down rather than crossing.

This spider has an unusual web. It spins a tube of silk that is hidden partially underground, with the portion above ground being covered in leaves and other debris. The spider waits for an insect to land or crawl onto the tube, then bites through the silk to pull the insect inside.

The specific name honors arachnologist Friedrich Karsch.

External links

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This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/7/2014. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.