Pirate spider

\n\n\n\n\n

Mimetidae (Pirate spiders)
Scientific classification
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Arachnida Order: Araneae Family: Mimetidae \n
Genera
\n*Mimetus\n*Ero

The pirate spiders (family Mimetidae) include over 150 species in about 12 genera worldwide. They are generally small (less than 10 mm) araneomorph spiders. They are easily separated from other spiders by the row of spines of two lengths found on the front tibiae. People seldom see these spiders, as they are rarer than members of most other families are. They are obligate araneophages (they eat other spiders). When they are found it is usually in the web of the spider they have just eaten. The genera include the widespread Mimetus and Ero. Many species of Mimetus have characteristic "tuning fork" marks on their prosoma (cephalothorax).

External links

\n*Arachnology Home Pages: Araneae\n*Platnick, N.I. 2003. World Spider Catalog