Dwarf tarantulas, also known as sheet funnel-web spiders are a type of spider from the family Mecicobothriidae. Dwarf tarantulas are one of several families of the suborder Mygalomorphae; this larger group also includes the true tarantulas.

Dwarf tarantula
Temporal range: Cretaceous–present
Illustration of Mecicobothrium thorelli
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Clade: Atypoidea
Family: Mecicobothriidae
Holmberg, 1882[1]

Description

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Dwarf tarantulas, as the name indicates, appear very similar to tarantulas, but are physically much smaller. Many specimens are smaller than 1 cm in length, and the largest in the family are seldom larger than 2 cm. The spiders, like all Mygalomorphae, have downward pointing fangs; dwarf tarantulas also have long spinnerets.

Genera

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There is currently only 1 recognized genus in this family:[1]

Mecicobothrium Holmberg, 1882

Genera moved to other families include:

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Family: Mecicobothriidae Holmberg, 1882 (genus list)", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2020-07-16