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Ero (spider)

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Ero
Temporal range: Palaeogene–present
Ero aphana, female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Mimetidae
Genus: Ero
C. L. Koch, 1836
Species
See text

Ero is a genus of pirate spiders first described in 1836.[1] They resemble comb-footed spiders due to their globular abdomen, which is higher than it is long.[2]

Description

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Ero sp. egg sac, Poland

The upper side of their abdomen bears one or two pairs of conical tubercles and some curved bristle-like hairs. The anterior medial eyes project on small tubercles. Leg 1 is nearly twice as long as leg 4.

Their egg sacs are uniquely shaped elongated globes, about four millimetres in diameter. They are suspended from vegetation on a silken thread, and are made from an inner layer of yellowish brown silk and an outer layer of dark coloured, loosely woven silk, giving it a "woolly" appearance. The sacs are not guarded by the female, so when the juveniles hatch, they have to fend for themselves. Since Ero species are nocturnal, the adults are not often seen and the egg sacks often reveal their presence before specimens are found.[2]

Feeding behaviour

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Spiders in this genus are specialised spider killers. They attack potential victims by biting one of its legs and injecting toxins. It quickly retreats as the prey spider becomes paralysed. When its prey is immobile, it feeds by sucking out the victim's body fluids.[3]

Species

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The World Spider Catalog lists these species:[4]

References

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  1. ^ Koch, C. L. (1836). Herrich-Schäffer, G. A. W. (ed.). "Arachniden". Deutschlands Insecten. Heft: 134–141.
  2. ^ a b "Family: Mimetidae (Pirate Spiders)". Spiders of Europe and Greenland. Archived from the original on 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  3. ^ Nieuwenhuys, Ed. "Spider enemies". Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  4. ^ "Gen. Ero". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
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Media related to Ero at Wikimedia Commons