The Eumenophorinae are a subfamily of tarantula spiders (family Theraphosidae). They are known from genera distributed across Sub-Saharan Africa, the south of the Arabian peninsula, Madagascar and its associated islands, and parts of India.
Distribution At about 158-160 million years ago (Mya), Gondwana split up and the Indo-Madagascan plate drifted away from the rest of the super continent. At around 84-86 Mya, India split from Madagascar and drifted into Eurasia (66-55 Mya), to its current position. Therefore, all fauna in Gondwana (such as the Eumenophorinae) would be distributed on all three land masses.
Characteristics The Eumenophorinae have stridulatory spike setae on the coxae of all legs, and a "comb" of stiffened setae on the palpal femur. In 2005, Richard Gallon described the monotypic genus Mascaraneus, which lacks the stridulatory spike setae.
Taxonomy The monophyly of the Eumenophorinae has been confirmed in a number of molecular phylogenetic studies. However, these have included relatively few of the genera that have been placed in the subfamily at one time or another. A 2014 study included Anoploscelus and Phoneyusa. A 2018 study included Hysterocrates, Monocentropus and Pelinobius.
Genera Genera that have been placed in the subfamily Eumenophorinae by various sources include:
Annandaliella Hirst, 1909 Anoploscelus Pocock, 1897 Batesiella Pocock, 1903 Encyocrates Simon, 1892 Eumenophorus Pocock, 1897 Heterophrictus Pocock, 1900 Heteroscodra Pocock, 1900 Hysterocrates Simon, 1892 Loxomphalia Simon, 1889 Loxoptygus Simon, 1903 Mascaraneus Gallon, 2005 Monocentropus Pocock, 1897 Myostola Simon, 1903 Neoheterophrictus Siliwal & Raven, 2012 Pelinobius Karsch, 1885 (as Citharischius Pocock, 1900) Phoneyusa Karsch, 1884 Plesiophrictus Pocock, 1899 Sahydroaraneus Mirza & Sanap, 2014 Stromatopelma Karsch, 1881
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