Biology:Ammoxenidae

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Short description: Family of spiders

Termite hunters
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Clade: Dionycha
Family: Ammoxenidae
Simon, 1893
Diversity
4 genera, 18 species
Distribution.ammoxenidae.1.png

Ammoxenidae, also known as termite hunters,[1] is a small family of spiders with eighteen species in four genera. Ammoxenus and Rastellus occur in Africa, while Austrammo and Barrowammo occur in Australia .[2]

Species of Ammoxenidae are reported to feed exclusively on termites. Based on molecular analysis of the spiders' gut contents, Ammoxenus amphalodes was shown to feed only on Hodotermes mossambicus.[3]

Genera

(As of April 2019), the World Spider Catalog accepts the following genera:[2]


See also

Footnotes

  1. Kelly, Lynne (2009). Spiders: Learning to Love Them. Allen & Unwin. p. 228. ISBN 978-1-74175-179-6. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Family: Ammoxenidae Simon, 1893". Natural History Museum Bern. http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/family/4. 
  3. Petráková, L.; Líznarová, E.; Pekár, S. (11 September 2015). "Discovery of a monophagous true predator, a specialist termite-eating spider (Araneae: Ammoxenidae)". Scientific Reports 5 (14013): 14013. doi:10.1038/srep14013. PMID 26359085. Bibcode2015NatSR...514013P. 


Wikidata ☰ Q5858 entry