Glenognatha


Glenognatha is a genus of long-jawed orb-weavers that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1887. It was considerably revised in 2016.

Distribution

Species in this genus are found in North America, Central America, Asia, South America, the Caribbean, Africa, on the French Polynesian Islands, and Saint Helena.

Description

Glenognatha species have a total length of 3-5 mm for both females and males.
The carapace is pear-shaped, dark and shiny, slightly punctuated, and anteriorly truncated. The eye region is elevated with eyes prominent in two rows, the anterior median eyes being the smallest.
In males, the chelicerae are long and robust. The abdomen is round and shiny, usually with dark spots. The legs are long, especially the first two pairs, and spines are absent.

Life style

Glenognatha species were sampled between vegetation under leaves in the forest understory from the ground layer. They construct horizontal, asymmetrical orb-webs with a tight mesh having closely set spirals and numerous radii. They attach small pieces of debris to the web under which they hide when disturbed. The web, stabilimentum and cryptic posture are very similar to those of Uloborus.

Species

, this genus includes 37 species:Glenognatha argenteoguttata – Marquesas Is.Glenognatha argyrostilba – Egypt, Niger, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ethiopia, DR Congo, South Africa. Introduced to Caribbean, Ecuador, Galapagos, Brazil, St. Helena, SeychellesGlenognatha australis – Ecuador to ArgentinaGlenognatha boraceia Cabra-García & Brescovit, 2016 – BrazilGlenognatha caaguara Cabra-García & Brescovit, 2016 – BrazilGlenognatha camisea Cabra-García & Brescovit, 2016 – PeruGlenognatha caparu Cabra-García & Brescovit, 2016 – Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Peru, Brazil, BoliviaGlenognatha caporiaccoi Platnick, 1993 – GuyanaGlenognatha chamberlini – French Polynesia Glenognatha dentata – China, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, PhilippinesGlenognatha dubiosa Benjamin, 2024 – Sri LankaGlenognatha emertoni Simon, 1887 – United States Glenognatha florezi Cabra-García & Brescovit, 2016 – ColombiaGlenognatha foxi – Canada to PanamaGlenognatha ganeshi – IndiaGlenognatha gaujoni Simon, 1895 – Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, BrazilGlenognatha globosa – Panama, Colombia, VenezuelaGlenognatha gloriae – Puerto RicoGlenognatha gouldi Cabra-García & Brescovit, 2016 – United States, MexicoGlenognatha heleios Hormiga, 1990 – United StatesGlenognatha hirsutissima – Marquesas Is.Glenognatha iviei Levi, 1980 – United StatesGlenognatha januari Cabra-García & Brescovit, 2016 – BrazilGlenognatha lacteovittata – Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, UruguayGlenognatha ledouxi Dierkens, 2016 – French Polynesia Glenognatha mendezi Cabra-García & Brescovit, 2016 – Costa Rica, Colombia, EcuadorGlenognatha minuta Banks, 1898 – Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Dominican Rep.Glenognatha nigromaculata – Marquesas Is.Glenognatha osawai Baba & Tanikawa, 2018 – JapanGlenognatha patriceae Cabra-García & Brescovit, 2016 – ColombiaGlenognatha paullula Sankaran, Caleb & Sebastian, 2020 – IndiaGlenognatha phalangiops – French Polynesia Glenognatha smilodon Bosmans & Bosselaers, 1994 – CameroonGlenognatha spherella Chamberlin & Ivie, 1936 – Mexico to PeruGlenognatha tangi – China, MyanmarGlenognatha timbira Cabra-García & Brescovit, 2016 – BrazilGlenognatha vivianae Cabra-García & Brescovit, 2016 – Brazil
In synonymy:
  • G. atlantica = Glenognatha argyrostilba
  • G. centralis Chamberlin, 1925 = Glenognatha minuta Banks, 1898
  • G. hawigtenera = Glenognatha dentata
  • G. maelfaiti Baert, 1987 = Glenognatha argyrostilba
  • G. mira Bryant, 1945 = Glenognatha argyrostilba
  • G. montana = ''Glenognatha argyrostilba''