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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » True Spiders (Araneomorphae) » Entelegynae » Trachelidae

Family Trachelidae

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · See Also · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

T. pacificus - Trachelas pacificus - female

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)

Class Arachnida (Arachnids)

Order Araneae (Spiders)

Infraorder Araneomorphae (True Spiders)

No Taxon (Entelegynae)

Family Trachelidae

Other Common Names

Ground Sac Spiders

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Meriola and Trachelas were transferred from Corinnidae to the new family Trachelidae by Ramírez, 2014.(1)

Numbers

11 species in 2 genera found in North America:

Meriola - 3 species

Trachelas - 8 species

Size

3-10mm

Identification

Cephalothorax red and abdomen yellow/tan. Legs without spines.

When distinguishing Trachelas from Meriola, it is helpful to look at the posterior row of eyes.

In Meriola, the posterior row of eyes is more closely spaced and straighter.

In Trachelas, they are more widely spaced

and the PLEs are set further back - the resulting recurved appearance of the posterior row is easiest seen in a view from above

Range

Exact distribution within these countries will be added when time permits.

Meriola

Trachelas

under construction

Meriola arcifera (Simon, 1886) - Chile, Bolivia, Argentina. Introduced to USA (California, Hawaii)

Meriola californica (Banks, 1904)- USA, Mexico

Meriola decepta Banks, 1895 * - USA to Guatemala, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Brazil

Trachelas huachucanus Gertsch, 1942 - USA, Mexico

Trachelas mexicanus Banks, 1898 - USA, Mexico

Trachelas organatus Platnick & Shadab, 1974 - USA, Mexico

Trachelas pacificus Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935 - USA, Mexico

Trachelas similis F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1899 - USA to Costa Rica

Trachelas sinuosus Platnick & Shadab, 1974 - USA

Trachelas tranquillus (Hentz, 1847) - USA, Canada

Trachelas volutus Gertsch, 1935 - USA, Mexico

See Also

Dysdera crocata - Woodlouse Hunter

Print References

The morphology and phylogeny of dionychan spiders

By Ramírez, Martín J.(1)

Internet References

World Spider Catalog (2014). World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern, online at http://wsc.nmbe.ch, version 15.5, accessed on 11/19/2014(2)

Works Cited

1.	The morphology and phylogeny of dionychan spiders Ramírez, Martín J. 2014. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History.

2.	World Spider Catalog

Contributed by Laura P. on 7 November, 2014 - 8:11pm
Additional contributions by Nathaniel Green, chuuuuung
Last updated 15 February, 2021 - 5:34pm

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