Altellopsis facts for kids

Altellopsis helveola is a special kind of spider found only in Argentina, a country in South America. It's the only known species in its group, called a genus. This spider belongs to a family known as tangled nest spiders. A famous scientist named Eugène Simon first described this spider in 1905.

About Altellopsis Helveola

Altellopsis helveola is a fascinating spider because it's the only one of its kind in the Altellopsis genus. Think of a genus as a small group of very similar animals. In this case, Altellopsis helveola is the only member of its group. This makes it quite unique in the spider world!

What is a Tangled Nest Spider?

Altellopsis helveola is part of the "tangled nest spider" family. These spiders are known for building messy, tangled webs. Unlike the neat, spiral webs you might often see, tangled webs look more like a jumbled mess of silk threads. These webs are very effective at catching insects that fly or crawl into them. The spiders often hide in a retreat within the web, waiting for their prey.

Where Do These Spiders Live?

This particular spider, Altellopsis helveola, has only ever been found in Argentina. Argentina is a large country located in the southern part of South America. This means Altellopsis helveola is a native of this region. Scientists are always exploring to see if these spiders might live in other places too, but for now, Argentina is their known home.

Who Discovered This Spider?

The spider was first described by a scientist named Eugène Simon in 1905. Eugène Simon was a very important French arachnologist, which means he studied spiders and other creatures like them. He described many different species of spiders during his career. His work helped us learn a lot about the amazing diversity of spiders around the world. When a scientist "describes" a new species, it means they officially name it and write down all its unique features so other scientists can identify it.

See also

In Spanish: Altellopsis para niños