Dwarf tarantulas, also known as sheet funnel-web spiders, are a type of spider from the family Mecicobothriidae. Dwarf tarantulas are one of several families of the suborder Mygalomorphae; this larger group also includes the true tarantulas.

Description Dwarf tarantulas, as the name indicates, appear very similar to tarantulas, but are physically much smaller. Many specimens are smaller than 1 cm in length, and the largest in the family are rarely bigger than 2 cm. The spiders, like all Mygalomorphae, have downward pointing fangs; dwarf tarantulas also have long spinnerets.

Genera , this family includes one genus and two species:

Mecicobothrium Holmberg, 1882 Mecicobothrium baccai Lucas et al., 2006 – Brazil Mecicobothrium thorelli Holmberg, 1882 – Argentina, Uruguay

Genera moved to other families include: Hexura Simon, 1884 → Antrodiaetidae Hexurella Gertsch & Platnick, 1979 → Hexurellidae Megahexura Kaston, 1972 → Megahexuridae

See also Spider families

References

Costa, F.G. & Pérez-Miles, F. (1998). Behavior, life cycle, and webs of Mecicobothrium thorelli, The Journal of Arachnology 26:317-329 PDF Gertsch, W.G. & Platnick, N.I. (1979). A revision of the spider family Mecicobothriidae (Araneae, Mygalomorphae). American Museum Novitates 2687 PDF (14Mb) - Abstract

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