Herennia

Taxobox
name = "Herennia"

---

image_caption = likely "H. papuana", from New Guinea
image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Arachnida
ordo = Araneae
subordo = Araneomorphae
familia = Nephilidae
genus = "Herennia"
genus_authority = Thorell, 1877
diversity_link = List of Nephilidae species#Herennia
diversity = 11 species
range_

range_map_width = 250px
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.

"Herennia" is a genus of spiders in the Nephilidae family with Australasian distribution. While two species have been known since the 19th century, nine new species were described in 2005. Spiders in this genus are sometimes called coin spiders.

While "H. multipuncta" is invasive and synanthropic, all other known species are endemic to islands.Kuntner, M. (2005). A revision of "Herennia" (Araneae:Nephilidae:Nephilinae), the Australasian 'coin spiders'. "Invertebrate Systematics" 19(5):391-436. [http://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/IS05024.htm Abstract] DOI|10.1071/IS05024]

Like in the related genus "Nephilengys", the much smaller males mutilate and sever their pedipalps, which are often found stuck in female genital openings. Three reasons for this have been proposed: the broken embolic conductors could function as mating plugs, severing the bulb after mutilation could help the male to avoid hemolymph leakage, or the severed male could protect his parental investment by fighting off rival males.

Name

Herennia Etruscilla was the wife of Trajan Decius. There are coins bearing her image, which were probably the source for Thorell to name the genus. The non-scientific name "coin spiders" was proposed because of this fact.

pecies

* "Herennia agnarssoni" Kuntner, 2005 — Solomon Islands
* "Herennia deelemanae" Kuntner, 2005 — Borneo
* "Herennia etruscilla" Kuntner, 2005 — Java
* "Herennia gagamba" Kuntner, 2005 — Philippines
* "Herennia jernej" Kuntner, 2005 — Sumatra
* "Herennia milleri" Kuntner, 2005 — New Guinea, New Britain
* "Herennia multipuncta" (Doleschall, 1859) — India to China, Borneo, Sulawesi
* "Herennia oz" Kuntner, 2005 — Northern Territory
* "Herennia papuana" Thorell, 1881 — New Guinea
* "Herennia sonja" Kuntner, 2005 — Kalimantan, Sulawesi
* "Herennia tone" Kuntner, 2005 — Philippines

References

External links

* [http://www.nephilidae.com/ Nephilidae.com: A web resource for nephilid spiders]