Eilica


Eilica is a genus of ground spiders that was first described by Eugen von Keyserling in 1891.

Description

Spiders of the genus Eilica have a total length of 2.2-7.8 mm. The carapace is oval in dorsal view, widest at coxae II, flattened, and narrowed anteriorly. The coloration ranges from light orange to dark brown. The cephalic area is not elevated and the thoracic groove is short and longitudinal.
The anterior eye row is usually only slightly procurved while the posterior row is slightly recurved. The posterior median eyes are irregularly rectangular while other eyes are circular. Lateral eyes are larger than medians. The labium is elongate and spear-shaped. The sternum is rounded and strongly bordered, not extending between coxae IV. The abdomen is light brown to black, longer than wide, with a shiny anterior scutum in males and often a distinct pattern of light spots. The leg formula is 4123.
Eilica may be easily recognized by the two or three translucent laminae found on the cheliceral retromargin and the anteriorly produced chelicerae and convergent endites.

Species

, this genus includes 28 species:Eilica albopunctataAustralia Eilica amambay Platnick, 1985Brazil, ParaguayEilica bedourie Platnick, 1985 – Australia Eilica bicolor Banks, 1896 – United States, Honduras, Cuba, JamaicaEilica bonda Müller, 1987 – ColombiaEilica chickeringi Platnick, 1975 – PanamaEilica cinctaWest, Central AfricaEilica contacta Platnick, 1975 – Australia Eilica daviesae Platnick, 1985 – Australia Eilica fusca Platnick, 1975 – South AfricaEilica giga FitzPatrick, 1994ZimbabweEilica kandarpae Nigam & Patel, 1996IndiaEilica lotzi FitzPatrick, 2002 – South AfricaEilica maculipesBrazilEilica marchantaria Brescovit & Höfer, 1993 – BrazilEilica modesta Keyserling, 1891 – Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina Eilica mullaroo Platnick, 1988 – Australia Eilica myrmecophilaPeru, ArgentinaEilica obscura – BrazilEilica platnicki Tikader & Gajbe, 1977 – IndiaEilica pomposa Medan, 2001 – Brazil, ArgentinaEilica rotunda Platnick, 1975 – Australia Eilica rufithoraxVenezuela, BrazilEilica serrata Platnick, 1975 – Australia Eilica songadhensis Patel, 1988 – IndiaEilica tikaderi Platnick, 1976 – IndiaEilica trilineata – Argentina, Chile, BrazilEilica uniformis – Argentina