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TaxonomyBrowseInfoImagesLinksBooksData

Genus Selenops

Unidentified spider from SW Florida. - Selenops submaculosus Spider - Selenops submaculosus Flat spider in Everglades NP - Selenops Florida Spider Indoors - Selenops Selenops sp. on wall in bridge area - Selenops Selenops submaculosus - male Unidentified Spider - FL USA - Selenops Selenops
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
Class Arachnida (Arachnids)
Order Araneae (Spiders)
Infraorder Araneomorphae (True Spiders)
No Taxon (Entelegynae)
Family Selenopidae (Flatties)
Genus Selenops
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
First described in 1819 by Pierre André Latreille
Explanation of Names
Selenops is from Greek selene (σεληνη)- "moon" + ops (ωψ)- "eye, face". Latreille translated it into French as "yeux en croissant" which means "eyes in a crescent"
Numbers
85 species in the New World. (1)

7 species in BugGuide's range (North America north of Mexico), but many species in Central America that can be possible imports.
Range
This genus is found throughout the tropics and subtropics worldwide and can be found in southern parts of the U.S. (1)

In Sarah Crews' 2011 paper, it is noted that there are quite a few unsorted specimens from all over the southwest (so it is best not to take the following ranges as concrete).

S. actophilus - throughout the southwest (collection localities include Arizona, California, & Texas)
S. aissus - collection localities include Alabama & the Florida Keys
S. debilis - throughout the southwest (collection localities include Arizona & New Mexico)
S. insularis - southern Florida (also once found in Washington DC on bananas)
S. nesophilus - throughout the southwest (collection localities include Arizona & California)
S. submaculosus - southern Florida

Additionally, S. mexicanus (=S. galapagoensis) has been found on imported produce several times throughout the U.S. and has one record from Broward Co., FL. (1)
Print References
(1)
Internet References
Nouveau dictionnaire d'histoire naturelle, 2d ed., v.30. p.579    Latreille's originals description of the genus (in French). The entry is under "Senelops", which is corrected in a footnote.