Phrynarachne
Phrynarachne is a genus of crab spiders first described by Tamerlan Thorell in 1869.
Distribution
Spiders in this genus are found in Asia and Africa.Description
The genus Phrynarachne exhibits colour variation from dull brownish red to greyish white.The carapace is as long as wide or longer with a broad and obtusely truncated clypeus in some species such as P. rugosa. The integument is hard, unequal, grooved and bearing distinct tubercles.
The eye region is narrower anteriorly with two equally recurved eye rows, the anterior row narrower than the posterior row. The posterior eyes are equidistant from each other with median eyes half the size of the lateral eyes. The median ocular quadrangle is as long as wide or slightly longer, slightly narrower anteriorly, with lateral eyes raised on common elevations.
The abdomen shape is variable with hard, unequal, grooved integument bearing distinct tubercles in P. rugosa, or with distinct extensions in P. melloleitaoi.
Legs are thick and robust, angular and grooved, with legs I and II stronger than the rest. The tibiae and metatarsi of legs I and II are almost the same length, flattened on the underside and armed with numerous robust, fairly short rows of spines. The tarsi have irregular and recumbent hairs with tarsal claws sometimes robust, curved with 6 to 10 teeth.
Males are smaller than females with anterior legs more slender and armed with fine, very long spines. The palp has two small tibial apophyses.
Life style
These spiders live on the surface of leaves on a disc of white silk with a striking resemblance to bird excrement.Species
, this genus includes 34 species and one subspecies:Phrynarachne aspera Thorell, 1895 – MyanmarPhrynarachne bimaculata Thorell, 1895 – MyanmarPhrynarachne brevis Tang & Li, 2010 – ChinaPhrynarachne ceylonica – India, Sri Lanka to China, Taiwan, JapanPhrynarachne cheesmanae – VanuatuPhrynarachne clavigera Simon, 1903 – MadagascarPhrynarachne coerulescens – Indonesia Phrynarachne cucullata Simon, 1886 – Cambodia, Vietnam, MoluccasPhrynarachne decipiens – India, Malaysia, Indonesia Phrynarachne dissimilis – Indonesia Phrynarachne dreepy Lin & Li, 2022 – Southeast Asia and PapuaPhrynarachne fatalis O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1899 – Sri LankaPhrynarachne gracilipes Pavesi, 1895 – EthiopiaPhrynarachne huangshanensis Li, Chen & Song, 1985 – ChinaPhrynarachne jobiensis – New GuineaPhrynarachne kannegieteri van Hasselt, 1893 – Indonesia Phrynarachne katoi Chikuni, 1955 – China, Korea, JapanPhrynarachne lancea Tang & Li, 2010 – ChinaPhrynarachne mammillata Song, 1990 – ChinaPhrynarachne marmorata Pocock, 1900 – Equatorial GuineaPhrynarachne melloleitaoi Lessert, 1933 – Angola, South Africa, LesothoPhrynarachne olivacea Jézéquel, 1964 – Ivory CoastPhrynarachne papulata Thorell, 1891 – Indonesia Phrynarachne peeliana – IndiaPhrynarachne pusiola Simon, 1903 – MadagascarPhrynarachne rothschildi Pocock, 1903 – Sri LankaPhrynarachne rubroperlata Simon, 1907 – West AfricaPhrynarachne rugosa – West Africa, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Madagascar, Réunion, Mauritius- * P. r. spongicolorata Millot, 1942 – GuineaPhrynarachne tuberculata Rainbow, 1899 – New GuineaPhrynarachne tuberosa – IndiaPhrynarachne tuberosula – West AfricaPhrynarachne xuxiake Lin & Li, 2022 – ChinaPhrynarachne yunhui Lin & Li, 2022 – China Phrynarachne zhengzhongi Lin & Li, 2022 – China