Scytodes

Scytodes
S. thoracica
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Subphylum:Chelicerata
Class:Arachnida
Order:Araneae
Infraorder:Araneomorphae
Family:Scytodidae
Genus:Scytodes
Latreille, 1804[1]
Species

See List of Scytodidae species#Scytodes.

Diversity
173 species

Scytodes is a genus of spitting spider that occurs all around the world. The most widely distributed species is Scytodes thoracica, which originally had a palearctic distribution, but has been introduced to North America, Argentina, India, Australia and New Zealand.[1]

Behavior

Reproduction

Females carry their eggs until they hatch. Upon hatching, the juvenile spiders remain in their mother's web. They cooperatively capture and feed on prey caught in the web. Upon reaching sexual maturity, the young spiders leave the web, move a short distance away and exhibit solitary behavior.[2]

Spitting

The spitting from which its name derives is used as a method of trapping prey[3] or escaping predators.[4] Sticky gum is expelled from their fangs and can be shot up to ten body lengths from the spider.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Scytodes". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  2. ↑ Li, Daiqin; Jackson, Robert R.; Barrion, Alberto T. (March 1999). "Parental and predatory behaviour of Scytodes sp., an araneophagic spitting spider (Araneae: Scytodidae) from the Philippines". Journal of Zoology. 247 (3): 293–310. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1999.tb00993.x.
  3. 1 2 McAlister, W. (1960). "The spitting habit in the spider Scytodes intricate Banks (Family Scytodidae)". Texas Journal of Science. 12: 17–20.
  4. ↑ Gilbert, C.; Rayor, L.S. (1985). "Predatory behavior of spitting spiders (Araneae: Scytodidae) and the evolution of prey wrapping" (PDF). Journal of Arachnology. 13: 231–241. Retrieved 24 May 2018.


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