The velvet spiders (family Eresidae) are a small group (about 100 species in 10 genera) of almost totally Old World spiders (exception: a few species are known from Brazil). The characteristics of this family of spiders are that they are entelegyne (have a genital plate in the female), eight-eyed araneomorph cribellate (use wooly silk) spiders that build unkempt webs. The family includes the genus Eresus , Gandanomeno and Stegodyphus among others. Some species are nearly eusocial, lacking only a specialized caste system and a queen. They cooperate in brood rearing, unlike almost most other spiders except for some African agelenid spiders in the genus Agelena and a few others.
External links
- [1] Family Eresidae [Velvet Spiders]
Last updated: 08-24-2005 12:53:15
