Leptonetidae is a family of small spiders adapted to live in dark and moist places such as caves. The family is relatively primitive having diverged around the Middle Jurassic period. They were first described by Eugène Simon in 1890.
Distinguishing characteristics Leptonetids are small, with most falling between in total length. They are generally pale in color and feature a greenish or bluish shine due to microscopic texture on the cuticle of their exoskeleton. Those species which have retained their eyes, have 6 eyes set in a distinctive pattern, with posterior pair set back from the others. If a spider from this family loses a leg, it usually separates between the patella and tibia rather than at the coxa/trochanter joint.
Habitat Many live in caves or in leaf litter around the Mediterranean, and in Eurasia, Japan and southern North America.
Genera , this family includes 22 genera and 400 species:
Appaleptoneta Platnick, 1986 – United States Barusia Kratochvíl, 1978 – Croatia, Greece, Montenegro Calileptoneta Platnick, 1986 – United States Cataleptoneta Denis, 1955 – Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece Chisoneta Ledford & Griswold, 2011 – Mexico, United States Falcileptoneta Komatsu, 1970 – Eastern Asia Jingneta Wang & Li, 2020 – China Leptoneta Simon, 1872 – Algeria, Korea, Italy, Portugal, Spain, France Leptonetela Kratochvíl, 1978 – China, Vietnam, Caucasus, Iran?, Turkey, Greece Longileptoneta Seo, 2015 – China, Japan, Korea Masirana Kishida, 1942 – Japan, Korea, Taiwan Montanineta Ledford & Griswold, 2011 – United States Neoleptoneta Brignoli, 1972 – Mexico Ozarkia Ledford & Griswold, 2011 – United States Paraleptoneta Fage, 1913 – Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, France Pararana Lin & Li, 2022 – China Protoleptoneta Deltshev, 1972 – Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, Slovenia, France Rhyssoleptoneta Tong & Li, 2007 – China Sulcia Kratochvíl, 1938 – Southern Europe Tayshaneta Ledford & Griswold, 2011 – United States Teloleptoneta Ribera, 1988 – Portugal Yueleptoneta Tong, 2022 – China
Two genera have been moved to the family Archoleptonetidae: Archoleptoneta Gertsch, 1974 — United States Darkoneta Ledford & Griswold, 2010 — North America, Central America
References
Further reading Gertsch, W.J. (1978). The spider family Leptonetidae in North America. Journal of Arachnology 1:145-203. PDF Platnick, N.I. (1986). On the tibial and patellar glands, relationships, and American genera of the spider family Leptonetidae (Arachnida, Araneae). American Museum Novitates 2855. PDF
External links