Hexophthalma hahni

Hexophthalma hahni
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Subphylum:Chelicerata
Class:Arachnida
Order:Araneae
Infraorder:Araneomorphae
Family:Sicariidae
Genus:Hexophthalma
Species: H. hahni
Binomial name
Hexophthalma hahni
(Karsch, 1878)[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Hexomma hahnii Karsch, 1878
  • Sicarius hahni (Karsch, 1878)
  • Sicarius testaceus Purcell, 1908
  • Hexophthalma testacea (Purcell, 1908)

Hexophthalma hahni (synonym Sicarius hahni), known along with other members of the genus as the six-eyed sand spider, is a member of the family Sicariidae, found in deserts and other sandy places in southern Africa. Due to their flattened stance and laterigrade legs, they are also sometimes known as six-eyed crab spiders. The species name honours Carl Wilhelm Hahn.

Behavior

This spider buries itself in the sand and strikes from ambush at prey that wanders too closely. Sand particles adhere to cuticles on its abdomen, thus acting as a natural camouflage if uncovered. If disturbed, it will run a short distance and bury itself again. The six-eyed spider has a poor sense of direction, unlike other species of spiders. On top of this it can survive a year without a meal or even a drop to drink, making it a patient hunter.

Venom

All species of Hexophthalma produce venom that can have necrotic (dermonecrotic) effects, capable of causing serious or even life-threatening wounds, particularly if the wound becomes infected or the venom spreads in the body. The necrotic effects are caused by a family of proteins related to sphingomyelinase D, present in the venom of all sicariid spiders. However, most Hexophthalama species, including H. hahnii have only been studied in vitro, and the detailed effects of their venom in humans and other vertebrates are unknown.[2] There are no proven records of bites in southern Africa.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Taxon details Hexophthalma hahni (Karsch, 1878)", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2018-07-16
  2. ↑ Magalhães, I.L.F.; Brescovit, A.D. & Santos, A.J. (2017), "Phylogeny of Sicariidae spiders (Araneae: Haplogynae), with a monograph on Neotropical Sicarius", Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 179 (4): 767–864, doi:10.1111/zoj.12442
  3. ↑ Leroy, Astri, Dangerous Spiders in South Africa (PDF), retrieved 2018-09-02
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