Periegops facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Periegops |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Periegopidae Simon, 1893 |
| Genera | |
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| Diversity | |
| 1 genera, 3 species | |
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Periegops are special spiders because they have six eyes instead of the usual eight! Most spiders have eight eyes. These spiders are the only ones in their unique family, called Periegopidae. There are three known types, or species, of Periegops spiders. For a long time, scientists thought these spiders belonged to other spider families. But in 1995, a scientist named Raymond Forster decided they were unique enough to have their very own family.
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About Periegops Spiders
These spiders were first described in 1893 by Eugene Simon. He studied a spider that was later found to be a type of P. suterii.
What They Look Like
Periegops spiders have only six eyes, which is unusual. Their body length can be different depending on the species and if it's a male or female. They usually range from about 5.9 millimeters to 10 millimeters long. That's about the size of a small button!
Their main body part, called the carapace, is orange. It's a bit darker towards the front. Their back part, the abdomen, is brown or creamy brown. It often has a cool pattern that looks like zigzags, called a chevron pattern. You can tell these spiders apart from others by how their six eyes are arranged. They are grouped into three pairs of two eyes.
Where They Live
Periegops spiders live in forests. They like places with lots of fallen leaves on the ground. They also prefer soil that drains water well, so it's not too wet.
How They Behave
Scientists have watched Periegops spiders, but they have never seen them build webs to catch food. Instead, these spiders use their silk for other things. They use it to make "drag lines," which are like safety ropes they leave behind as they move. They also use silk to create little hideouts where they can rest.
Periegops spiders are probably fast hunters. They are also nocturnal, which means they are active at night.
For one species, P. suterii, scientists have found female spiders with two or three males nearby. This might mean that the female spiders have a special way to attract males to them.
Periegops Species
As of April 2019, the World Spider Catalog lists these three species of Periegops:
- Periegops Simon, 1893
- Periegops australia Forster, 1995 — You can find this one in Australia, specifically in Queensland.
- Periegops keani Vink, Dupérré & Malumbres-Olarte, 2013 — This species lives in New Zealand, on the North Island.
- Periegops suterii (Urquhart, 1892) — This species is also found in New Zealand, but on the South Island.
