Allocyclosa is a genus of orb weaver spiders that contains only one species, Allocyclosa bifurca.[1] It was first described in 1887 by McCook under the name Cyrtophora bifurca,[2] and was transferred to its own genus in 1999.[6] It is the only Cyclosa species north of Mexico to have a forked tail,[clarification needed][6] hence the name bifurca, Latin for "two-forked".[7] The forked abdomen, bearing two humps shaped like the letter M,[7] is a defining feature in both males and females, though it is similar to features present in certain Cyrtophora species.[6] Both sexes are a transparent green color, though only females have an area of red on their underside between the epigynum and the spinnerets. Females are nearly thirty percent larger than males, ranging from five to nine millimeters, while males range from two to three millimeters.[6][dubious – discuss] Males are very uncommon. In a 1977 study by Levi, only two of the nearly 350 specimens that were positively identified as Cyrtophora bifurca were males.[7][8] This is a very odd distribution, and it has been posed that females of the species, which have less prominent genitalia relative to other members of the orb-weaver family, may be parthenogenic, or able to reproduce without the help of males.[8] Like other members of Araneidae, these spiders create orb webs, six to eight inches in diameter,[7] but apply a unique form of protective mimicry. Females sit in the middle of a vertical row of web decoration, with egg sacs above and wrapped prey below. Because they all have a similar color and shape, it is difficult to discern between the egg sacs, the wrapped prey, and the spider itself.
^ ab"Araneidae". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2017-03-22.
^ abcMcCook, H. C. (1887). "Note on Cyrtophora bifurca (n. sp.) and her cocoons, a new orb-weaving spider". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 39 (3): 342–343. JSTOR 4061177.
^Pickard-Cambridge, O. (1889d). Arachnida. Araneida. In: Biologia Centrali-Americana, Zoology. London 1
^Pickard-Cambridge, F. O. (1904). Arachnida - Araneida and Opiliones. In: Biologia Centrali-Americana, Zoology. London 2
^Simon, E. (1895a). Histoire naturelle des araignées. Paris 1
^ abcdLevi, H. W. (1999). "The Neotropical and Mexican Orb Weavers of the genera Cyclosa and Allocyclosa (Araneae: Araneidae)". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. 155: 299–379.
^ abLevi, H. W. (1977). "The American orb-weaver genera Cyclosa, Metazygia and Eustala north of Mexico (Araneae, Araneidae)". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College. 148: 61–127.
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allocyclosa, genus, weaver, spiders, that, contains, only, species, bifurca, first, described, 1887, mccook, under, name, cyrtophora, bifurca, transferred, genus, 1999, only, cyclosa, species, north, mexico, have, forked, tail, clarification, needed, hence, na. Allocyclosa is a genus of orb weaver spiders that contains only one species Allocyclosa bifurca 1 It was first described in 1887 by McCook under the name Cyrtophora bifurca 2 and was transferred to its own genus in 1999 6 It is the only Cyclosa species north of Mexico to have a forked tail clarification needed 6 hence the name bifurca Latin for two forked 7 The forked abdomen bearing two humps shaped like the letter M 7 is a defining feature in both males and females though it is similar to features present in certain Cyrtophora species 6 Both sexes are a transparent green color though only females have an area of red on their underside between the epigynum and the spinnerets Females are nearly thirty percent larger than males ranging from five to nine millimeters while males range from two to three millimeters 6 dubious discuss Males are very uncommon In a 1977 study by Levi only two of the nearly 350 specimens that were positively identified as Cyrtophora bifurca were males 7 8 This is a very odd distribution and it has been posed that females of the species which have less prominent genitalia relative to other members of the orb weaver family may be parthenogenic or able to reproduce without the help of males 8 Like other members of Araneidae these spiders create orb webs six to eight inches in diameter 7 but apply a unique form of protective mimicry Females sit in the middle of a vertical row of web decoration with egg sacs above and wrapped prey below Because they all have a similar color and shape it is difficult to discern between the egg sacs the wrapped prey and the spider itself AllocyclosaAllocyclosa bifurcaScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaSubphylum ChelicerataClass ArachnidaOrder AraneaeInfraorder AraneomorphaeFamily AraneidaeGenus AllocyclosaSpecies A bifurcaBinomial nameAllocyclosa bifurca McCook 1887 1 SynonymsAllocyclosa furcata Cyrtophora bifurca 2 Cyclosa bifurca 2 Cyclosa fissicauda 3 Cyclosa furcata 4 Larinia fissicauda 5 References Edit a b Araneidae World Spider Catalog Natural History Museum Bern Retrieved 2017 03 22 a b c McCook H C 1887 Note on Cyrtophora bifurca n sp and her cocoons a new orb weaving spider Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 39 3 342 343 JSTOR 4061177 Pickard Cambridge O 1889d Arachnida Araneida In Biologia Centrali Americana Zoology London 1 Pickard Cambridge F O 1904 Arachnida Araneida and Opiliones In Biologia Centrali Americana Zoology London 2 Simon E 1895a Histoire naturelle des araignees Paris 1 a b c d Levi H W 1999 The Neotropical and Mexican Orb Weavers of the genera Cyclosa and Allocyclosa Araneae Araneidae Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 155 299 379 a b c d Species Allocyclosa bifurca BugGuide Retrieved 2017 06 14 a b Levi H W 1977 The American orb weaver genera Cyclosa Metazygia and Eustala north of Mexico Araneae Araneidae Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard College 148 61 127 This Araneidae related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Allocyclosa amp oldid 1006922031, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
