False Wolf Spiders - Family: Zoropsidae
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The Zoropsidae are a family of 180 species in 27 genera and with a rather checkered distribution. Most are found in Australia, New Zealand, southern and western Europe, south-western parts of North America, and Central America. There are also records from the Far East and South Africa. Of the 34 Australian species, 5 may be found in the Northern Rivers. They are very similar to the Lycosidae in appearance the fact that their eyes are more equally sized can be used as a distinguishing feature. The family was given its' name by the German entomologist Philipp Bertkau in 1882. The species of the families: Zorocratidae and Tengellidae were added to the Zoropsidae in 2015 once it became clear that the former two were synonyms of the latter.
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Zoropsids are very similar to the Lycosidae in appearance but, the fact that their eyes are more equally sized can be used as a distinguishing feature. They are medium to large spiders ranging in size from about 5 to 20 mm. Whereas many are of robust build some have quite long legs and the total legspan may reach 70 mm or so. Drab colours are the norm for this family, with mottled browns dominating and only the odd black or orange and reddish-brown species found.
Australian species are vagrants who inhabit the leaf litter in rainforests where they hunt their prey mostly at night. They do not build webs and sightings are most common in the months November and December. About a quarter of records have been identified to family level only. |
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The taxonomic arrangements within this family is still a contentious issue. Some 15 genera are recent additions and it seems likely that changes may happen still in time to come. The resemblance to Lycosids and Pisaurids is proving to be troublesome as is their unusual distribution.
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Austrotengella hackerae (possible occurrence)
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Austrotengella plimeri (likely occurrence)
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Austrotengella toddae (possible occurrence)
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Kilyana campbelli
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Kilyana dougcooki
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Taxonomy:
Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods)
> Subphylum: Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
> Class: Arachnida (Arachnids)
> Order: Aranea (Spiders)
> Suborder: Araneomorphae (Typical Spiders)
> Infraorder: Entelegynea (Entelegyne Spiders)
> Superfamily: Lycosoidea (Wolf Spiders and Allies)
> Family: Zoropsidae (False Wolf Spiders)
> Genus: Austrotengella
> Species: A. hackerae ^
> Species: A. plimeri *
> Species: A. toddae ^
> Genus: Kilyana
> Species: K. campbelli
> Species: K. dougcooki
* = likely
^ = possibly
References and links:
> Polotow, D., Carmichael, A. and Griswold, C.E., (2015). 'Total evidence analysis of the phylogenetic relationships of Lycosoidea spiders (Araneae, Entelegynae).' Invertebrate Systematics 29(2): 124-163. doi:10.1071/IS14041
> Raven, R.J. and Stumkat, K.S., (2005). 'Revisions of Australian ground-hunting spiders: II. Zoropsidae (Lycosoidea: Araneae).' Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 50: 347-423.
> Raven, R.J., (2012). 'Revisions of Australian ground-hunting spiders. V. A new lycosoid genus from eastern Australia (Araneae: Tengellidae).' Zootaxa 3305: 28-52. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3305.1.2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipp_Bertkau
https://wsc.nmbe.ch/family/112/Zoropsidae
https://www.arachne.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=2432
> Polotow, D., Carmichael, A. and Griswold, C.E., (2015). 'Total evidence analysis of the phylogenetic relationships of Lycosoidea spiders (Araneae, Entelegynae).' Invertebrate Systematics 29(2): 124-163. doi:10.1071/IS14041
> Raven, R.J. and Stumkat, K.S., (2005). 'Revisions of Australian ground-hunting spiders: II. Zoropsidae (Lycosoidea: Araneae).' Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 50: 347-423.
> Raven, R.J., (2012). 'Revisions of Australian ground-hunting spiders. V. A new lycosoid genus from eastern Australia (Araneae: Tengellidae).' Zootaxa 3305: 28-52. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3305.1.2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipp_Bertkau
https://wsc.nmbe.ch/family/112/Zoropsidae
https://www.arachne.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=2432
Photographic contributions: