Schizocosa
Schizocosa is a genus of wolf spiders containing 56 species, distributed in North and South America, Africa, and East and Southeast Asia.
Description
Members of the genus Schizocosa are medium to large in size, usually ranging from 5 to 15 mm in body length. They are strong-legged spiders with relatively keen eyesight that carry their bodies high.
The carapace when viewed from above is truncate or somewhat concave at the posterior margin and smoothly convex along the lateral margins. It is narrowed and steeply sloped at the level of the first leg's coxa. When viewed laterally, the carapace is uniform in height from the dorsal groove to the level of the third row of eyes and slightly concave along the dorsal line.
The dorsal fovea is long, distinct, and shallow. The lateral areas are dark red-brown to nearly black, usually streaked with black, while pale submarginal bands are usually narrow but distinct and sometimes broken into spots. The eye area and the highest part of the carapace are black.
The eyes of the first row are uniform in size, or the anterior median eyes are slightly larger than the anterior lateral eyes. The first row of eyes is procurved and relatively narrow.
The abdomen in dorsal view is approximately ovoid, usually with a distinct dark heart mark that extends posteriorly one-half or more of the abdomen's length. The legs are moderately long and stout with strong macrosetae.
Life style
Spiders in this genus are able to dart with great speed when pursuing prey or taking cover among the grasses which form their normal habitat. Individuals may wander long distances within a particular field or meadow.
Species
, this genus includes 56 species:Schizocosa altamontis – PeruSchizocosa arua – Indonesia Schizocosa astuta – TanzaniaSchizocosa aulonia Dondale, 1969 – United StatesSchizocosa avida – Canada, United States, MexicoSchizocosa bilineata – Canada, United StatesSchizocosa cecili – ZimbabweSchizocosa ceratiola – United StatesSchizocosa cespitum Dondale & Redner, 1978 – CanadaSchizocosa chiricahua Dondale & Redner, 1978 – United StatesSchizocosa communis – Canada, United StatesSchizocosa concolor – Palistan Schizocosa conspicua – RwandaSchizocosa cotabatoana Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 – PhilippinesSchizocosa crassipalpata Roewer, 1951 – Canada, United StatesSchizocosa crassipes – United StatesSchizocosa darlingi – Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, South AfricaSchizocosa duplex Chamberlin, 1925 – Canada, United StatesSchizocosa ehni – AngolaSchizocosa floridana Bryant, 1934 – United StatesSchizocosa fragilis – Indonesia Schizocosa hebes – China, India?Schizocosa hewitti – DR Congo, Kenya, TanzaniaSchizocosa humilis – Canada, United StatesSchizocosa incerta – United StatesSchizocosa interjecta – TanzaniaSchizocosa malitiosa – Bolivia, Argentina, UruguaySchizocosa maxima Dondale & Redner, 1978 – United StatesSchizocosa mccooki – Canada, United States, MexicoSchizocosa mimula – United States, MexicoSchizocosa minahassae – Indonesia Schizocosa minnesotensis – Canada, United StatesSchizocosa minor – East AfricaSchizocosa obscoena – VanuatuSchizocosa ocreata – Canada, United States, Mexico Schizocosa parricida – ChinaSchizocosa perplexa Bryant, 1936 – United StatesSchizocosa pilipes – West, Central AfricaSchizocosa puebla Chamberlin, 1925 – United StatesSchizocosa retrorsa – Canada, United States, MexicoSchizocosa rovneri Uetz & Dondale, 1979 – United StatesSchizocosa rubiginea – China, India?Schizocosa salara – AfghanistanSchizocosa salsa Barnes, 1953 – United StatesSchizocosa saltatrix – Canada, United States, MexicoSchizocosa segregata Gertsch & Wallace, 1937 – United StatesSchizocosa semiargentea – PeruSchizocosa serranoi – Brazil, ArgentinaSchizocosa stridulans Stratton, 1984 – United StatesSchizocosa subpersonata – Namibia, South AfricaSchizocosa tamae – MexicoSchizocosa tenera – West, Central AfricaSchizocosa tristani – Costa Rica, PanamaSchizocosa uetzi Stratton, 1997 – United StatesSchizocosa venusta – TanzaniaSchizocosa vulpecula – Wallis Is.