Leptonetidae is a family of small spiders adapted to live in dark and moist places such as caves. The family is relatively primitive having diverged around the Middle Jurassic period. They were first described by Eugène Simon in 1890.
Distinguishing characteristics
Leptonetids are small, with most falling between 2 and 5mm in total length. They are generally pale in color and feature a greenish or bluish shine due to microscopic texture on the cuticle of their exoskeleton. Those species which have retained their eyes, have 6 eyes set in a distinctive pattern, with posterior pair set back from the others. If a spider from this family looses a leg, it usually separates between the patella and tibia rather than at the coxa/trochanter joint.
Habitat
Many live in caves or in leaf litter around the Mediterranean, and in Eurasia, Japan and southern North America.
Genera
, the World Spider Catalog accepted the following genera:
Appaleptoneta Platnick, 1986 — United States
Barusia Kratochvíl, 1978 — Montenegro, Croatia, Greece
Calileptoneta Platnick, 1986 — United States
Cataleptoneta Denis, 1955 — Asia, Europe
Chisoneta Ledford & Griswold, 2011 — United States, Mexico
Falcileptoneta Komatsu, 1970 — Japan, Korea
Jingneta Wang & Li, 2020
Leptoneta Simon, 1872 — Europe, Asia, Algeria
Leptonetela Kratochvíl, 1978 — Greece, Asia
Longileptoneta Seo, 2015 — Korea
Masirana Kishida, 1942 — Japan, Korea
Montanineta Ledford & Griswold, 2011 — United States
Neoleptoneta Brignoli, 1972 — Mexico
Ozarkia Ledford & Griswold, 2011 — United States
Paraleptoneta Fage, 1913 — Algeria, Italy
Protoleptoneta Deltshev, 1972 — Europe
Rhyssoleptoneta Tong & Li, 2007 — China
Sulcia Kratochvíl, 1938 — Europe
Tayshaneta Ledford & Griswold, 2011 — United States
Teloleptoneta Ribera, 1988 — Portugal
Yueleptoneta Tong, 2022
Two genera have been moved to the family Archoleptonetidae: Archoleptoneta Gertsch, 1974 — United States Darkoneta Ledford & Griswold, 2010 — North America, Central America
See also
List of Leptonetidae species
References
Further reading
Gertsch, W.J. (1978). The spider family Leptonetidae in North America. Journal of Arachnology 1:145-203. PDF Platnick, N.I. (1986). On the tibial and patellar glands, relationships, and American genera of the spider family Leptonetidae (Arachnida, Araneae). American Museum Novitates 2855. PDF