Recluse spider

Recluse spider
Temporal range: Neogene– Present
Loxosceles gaucho, Brazil
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Sicariidae
Genus: Loxosceles
Heineken & Lowe, 1832[1]
Type species
L. rufescens
(Dufour, 1820)
Species

143, see text

Synonyms[1]

The recluse spiders (Loxosceles (/lɒkˈsɒsɪliːz/), also known as brown spiders, fiddle-backs, violin spiders, and reapers, is a genus of spiders that was first described by R. T. Lowe in 1832.[4] They are venomous spiders known for their bite, which sometimes produces a characteristic set of symptoms known as loxoscelism.

Recluse spiders are now identified as members of the family Sicariidae, having formerly been placed in their own family, the Loxoscelidae. Although recluse spiders are feared, they are usually not aggressive.[5]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference WSC_g3087 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Brignoli, P. M. (1978). "Spinnen aus Brasilien, II. Vier neue Ochyroceratidae aus Amazonas nebst Bemerkungen über andere Amerikanische Arten (Arachnida: Araneae)". Studies on Neotropical Fauna and Environment. 13: 18. doi:10.1080/01650527809360529.
  3. ^ Gertsch, W. J.; Ennik, F. (1983). "The spider genus Loxosceles in North America, Central America, and the West Indies (Araneae, Loxoscelidae)". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 175: 277.
  4. ^ Lowe, R. T. (1832). "Descriptions of two species of Araneidae, natives of Madeira". The Zoological Journal. 5: 320–323.
  5. ^ Binkovitz, Leah. "Why We Should All Celebrate Save a Spider Day". Smithsonian. Retrieved 2017-07-17.