Lynx spider (Oxyopidae) is a family of araneomorph spiders first described by Tamerlan Thorell in 1870.[1] Most species make little use of webs, instead spending their lives as hunting spiders on plants. Many species frequent flowers in particular, ambushing pollinators, much as crab spiders do. They tend to tolerate members of their own species more than most spiders do, and at least one species has been identified as exhibiting social behaviour.[2]
There are several genera of Oxyopidae and they differ in their habits and adaptations. Most of them have large spiny bristles on their legs and in many species the bristles form almost a basket-like structure that may assist in confining the prey that they grasp, and protect the spider from its struggles. Most Oxyopes and Hamataliwa species are small to medium in size. Lynx spiders, in spite of being largely ambush hunters, are very speedy runners and leapers, alert and with good vision. Oxyopidae in general rely on keen eyesight in stalking, chasing, or ambushing prey, and also in avoiding enemies.
IdentificationEdit
As with many other families of spiders, the arrangement of their eyes is typical of the family and is an important aid in identifying them as members of the family. Six of the eight eyes of Oxyopid spiders are arranged in a hexagon-like pattern, more or less on a prominent hump on the front upper corner of the prosoma. The other two eyes are smaller, less conspicuous, and generally are situated in front of and below the other six. The basal parts of the chelicerae of most species are large, vertical and parallel, which combine with the bluff front end, a "high forehead" to the prosoma, to give most species a peculiar "flat-faced" appearance.
HuntingEdit
They tend to be drab ambush hunters, depending to some extent on the season, some occupy flowers, ambushing pollinating insects. In this they resemble the crab spiders (Thomisidae) in behaviour. Others crouch in wait, camouflaged on plant stalks or bark. Peucetia species on the other hand, commonly are larger. They are rangy and their camouflage is vivid green, adapted to hunting or hiding among foliage.
BehaviorEdit
A Peucetia female, showing the eye pattern and the "flat-faced" appearance typical of the Oxyopidae. In this species the leg bristles are only moderately developed.
Except when defending egg purses, many tend to flee rapidly when approached by predators or large creatures such as humans. They tend not to be very aggressive towards other members of their own species, and sometimes meet casually in small groups. Possibly as an extreme example, at least one member of the genus Tapinillus is remarkable as being one of the few social spiders, living in colonies with communal feeding, cooperative brood care, and generational overlap.[3]Peucetia viridans is unusual among spiders in that females defending their egg purses will spray or "spit" venom at intruders, including humans.[4]
BenefitsEdit
Some members of the genus Oxyopes are abundant enough to be important in agricultural systems as biological control agents. This is especially true of the striped lynx spider (Oxyopes salticus). Their net value in agriculture has been disputed however, on the grounds of their predation of pollinators.[5]
^Thorell, T. (1870). "On European spiders". Nova Acta Regiae Societatis Scientiarum Upsaliensis. 3 (7): 109–242.
^Leticia Aviles (1994). "Social behaviour in a web-building lynx spider, Tapinillus sp. (Araneae: Oxyopidae)" (PDF). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 51: 163–176. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
^Aviles, Leticia : Social behaviour in a web-building lynx spider, Tapinillus spp. (Araneae, Oxyopidae) (1994) Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 52 (2), pp. 163-176.
^Fink LS. 1984. Venom spitting by the green lynx spider, Peucetia viridans (Araneae, Oxyopidae). Journal of Arachnology, vol. 12, pp. 373-4
^Weems, H. V. Jr.; Whitcomb, W. H. (2001). "Green Lynx Spider, Peucetia viridans (Hentz) (Arachnida: Araneae: Oxyopidae)". Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Retrieved 2022-03-23.
^"Family: Oxyopidae Thorell, 1870". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
lynx, spider, oxyopidae, family, araneomorph, spiders, first, described, tamerlan, thorell, 1870, most, species, make, little, webs, instead, spending, their, lives, hunting, spiders, plants, many, species, frequent, flowers, particular, ambushing, pollinators. Lynx spider Oxyopidae is a family of araneomorph spiders first described by Tamerlan Thorell in 1870 1 Most species make little use of webs instead spending their lives as hunting spiders on plants Many species frequent flowers in particular ambushing pollinators much as crab spiders do They tend to tolerate members of their own species more than most spiders do and at least one species has been identified as exhibiting social behaviour 2 Lynx spidersTemporal range Palaeogene present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg NStriped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus maleScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaSubphylum ChelicerataClass ArachnidaOrder AraneaeInfraorder AraneomorphaeFamily OxyopidaeThorell 1869Diversity9 genera 521 species Contents 1 Description 2 Identification 3 Hunting 4 Behavior 5 Benefits 6 Genera 7 Gallery 8 See also 9 References 10 External linksDescription EditThere are several genera of Oxyopidae and they differ in their habits and adaptations Most of them have large spiny bristles on their legs and in many species the bristles form almost a basket like structure that may assist in confining the prey that they grasp and protect the spider from its struggles Most Oxyopes and Hamataliwa species are small to medium in size Lynx spiders in spite of being largely ambush hunters are very speedy runners and leapers alert and with good vision Oxyopidae in general rely on keen eyesight in stalking chasing or ambushing prey and also in avoiding enemies Identification EditAs with many other families of spiders the arrangement of their eyes is typical of the family and is an important aid in identifying them as members of the family Six of the eight eyes of Oxyopid spiders are arranged in a hexagon like pattern more or less on a prominent hump on the front upper corner of the prosoma The other two eyes are smaller less conspicuous and generally are situated in front of and below the other six The basal parts of the chelicerae of most species are large vertical and parallel which combine with the bluff front end a high forehead to the prosoma to give most species a peculiar flat faced appearance Hunting EditThey tend to be drab ambush hunters depending to some extent on the season some occupy flowers ambushing pollinating insects In this they resemble the crab spiders Thomisidae in behaviour Others crouch in wait camouflaged on plant stalks or bark Peucetia species on the other hand commonly are larger They are rangy and their camouflage is vivid green adapted to hunting or hiding among foliage Behavior Edit nbsp A Peucetia female showing the eye pattern and the flat faced appearance typical of the Oxyopidae In this species the leg bristles are only moderately developed Except when defending egg purses many tend to flee rapidly when approached by predators or large creatures such as humans They tend not to be very aggressive towards other members of their own species and sometimes meet casually in small groups Possibly as an extreme example at least one member of the genus Tapinillus is remarkable as being one of the few social spiders living in colonies with communal feeding cooperative brood care and generational overlap 3 Peucetia viridans is unusual among spiders in that females defending their egg purses will spray or spit venom at intruders including humans 4 Benefits EditSome members of the genus Oxyopes are abundant enough to be important in agricultural systems as biological control agents This is especially true of the striped lynx spider Oxyopes salticus Their net value in agriculture has been disputed however on the grounds of their predation of pollinators 5 Genera EditMain article List of Oxyopidae species Genera common in the United States include common lynx spiders and green lynx spiders As of April 2019 update the World Spider Catalog accepts the following genera 6 Hamadruas Deeleman Reinhold 2009 Asia Hamataliwa Keyserling 1887 South America North America Central America Asia Australia Africa Caribbean Hostus Simon 1898 Madagascar Oxyopes Latreille 1804 Africa North America South America Oceania Asia Central America Caribbean Italy Peucetia Thorell 1869 Asia Australia Europe South America Africa United States Panama Pseudohostus Rainbow 1915 Australia Schaenicoscelis Simon 1898 Brazil Guyana Tapinillus Simon 1898 Brazil Tapponia Simon 1885 Malaysia IndonesiaGallery Edit nbsp Oxyopes quadrifasciatus are member of the family Oxyopidae Photo taken in Dahod nbsp Lynx spider Dahod nbsp Oxyopes sp nbsp Lynx spider Kolkata West Bengal India nbsp Lynx spider preying on a housefly nbsp Male Oxyopes salticus 4 mm North Carolina nbsp The lynx spider Oxyopes species with prey at Dehra Dun India nbsp Oxyopes scalaris Western Lynx Spider nbsp Lynx Spider Wichita Kansas USASee also EditList of Oxyopidae speciesReferences Edit Thorell T 1870 On European spiders Nova Acta Regiae Societatis Scientiarum Upsaliensis 3 7 109 242 Leticia Aviles 1994 Social behaviour in a web building lynx spider Tapinillus sp Araneae Oxyopidae PDF Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 51 163 176 Retrieved 2022 03 23 Aviles Leticia Social behaviour in a web building lynx spider Tapinillus spp Araneae Oxyopidae 1994 Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 52 2 pp 163 176 Fink LS 1984 Venom spitting by the green lynx spider Peucetia viridans Araneae Oxyopidae Journal of Arachnology vol 12 pp 373 4 Weems H V Jr Whitcomb W H 2001 Green Lynx Spider Peucetia viridans Hentz Arachnida Araneae Oxyopidae Entomology and Nematology Department Florida Cooperative Extension Service Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida Retrieved 2022 03 23 Family Oxyopidae Thorell 1870 World Spider Catalog Natural History Museum Bern Retrieved 2019 04 22 External links Edit nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Oxyopidae nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oxyopidae Lynx Spider large format photographs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lynx spider amp oldid 1175274613, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
