Poecilochroa
Poecilochroa is a genus of ground spiders that was first described by Niklas Westring in 1874.
Description
As Gnaphosidae, Poecilochroa have large cylindrical spinnerets. They are nocturnal, spending the day in silken retreats and going out at night to hunt.
Poecilochroa are divided into two gnaphosid groups based on their abdomen colouration: those with plain abdomens are in the Echemus group, while those with black and white abdomen are in the Herpyllus group. Males of both groups have well-developed dorsal scuta.
Habitat
Poecilochroa occur in various habitats including on and under stones and dead leaves, on vegetation, in steppes, grasslands, dry fields, stream beds and forest floors.
Species
, this genus includes 28 species:Poecilochroa albomaculata – Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Morocco, Algeria, TunisiaPoecilochroa alcala Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 – PhilippinesPoecilochroa anomala – South Africa, LesothoPoecilochroa barmani Tikader, 1982 – IndiaPoecilochroa bifasciata Banks, 1902 – GalapagosPoecilochroa capensis Strand, 1909 – South AfricaPoecilochroa carinata Caporiacco, 1947 – UgandaPoecilochroa dayamibrookiana Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 – PhilippinesPoecilochroa exoculata Lissner, 2024 – Canary IslandsPoecilochroa faradjensis Lessert, 1929 – DR CongoPoecilochroa haplostyla Simon, 1907 – São Tomé and PríncipePoecilochroa insularis Kulczyński, 1911 – Indonesia Poecilochroa involuta Tucker, 1923 – South AfricaPoecilochroa joreungensis Paik, 1992 – KoreaPoecilochroa khodiar – IndiaPoecilochroa kuljitae – IndiaPoecilochroa latefasciata Simon, 1893 – PeruPoecilochroa parangunifasciata Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 – PhilippinesPoecilochroa patricia – France Poecilochroa pauciaculeis Caporiacco, 1947 – EritreaPoecilochroa phyllobia – ItalyPoecilochroa rollini Berland, 1933 – French Polynesia Poecilochroa taeguensis Paik, 1992 – KoreaPoecilochroa tridotus Caleb & Mathai, 2013 – IndiaPoecilochroa trifasciata Mello-Leitão, 1918 – BrazilPoecilochroa variana – Europe, Central Asia Poecilochroa viduata – EthiopiaPoecilochroa vittata Kulczyński, 1911 – Indonesia