- Clitaetra
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Clitaetra Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Arachnida Order: Araneae Suborder: Araneomorphae Family: Nephilidae Genus: Clitaetra
Simon, 1889Species See text
Diversity 6 species 
Clitaetra is the least known of the four currently recognised nephilid spider genera. It occurs in Africa, Madagascar and Sri Lanka, hinting to a Gondwanan origin. The split between Clitaetra and other nephilids may be as old as 160 million years.[1]
The smallest species (C. thisbe) reaches 3.5 mm in female length, the biggest species can be as long as one centimeter.
Contents
Name
The etymology of the genus name is unknown.[1]
Species
- Clitaetra clathrata Simon, 1907 (West Africa)
- Clitaetra episinoides Simon, 1889 (Comoro Is.)
- Clitaetra irenae Kuntner, 2006 (South Africa)
- Clitaetra perroti Simon, 1894 (Madagascar)
- Clitaetra simoni Benoit, 1962 (Congo)
- Clitaetra thisbe Simon, 1903 (Sri Lanka)
References
- ^ a b Kuntner, M. 2006. Phylogenetic systematics of the Gondwanan nephilid spider lineage Clitaetrinae (Araneae, Nephilidae). Zoologica Scripta 35(1):19-62. PDF
External links
Categories:- Nephilidae
- Spiders of Africa
- Spiders of Asia
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