Chthonopes

Chthonopes is a genus of southeast Asian ray spiders that was first described by J. Wunderlich in 2011.[2] As of June 2020 it contains three species, found in caves of Laos, but can likely also be found in India and China:[2] C. cavernicola, C. jaegeri, and C. thakekensis.[1] They have several adaptations for darker environments, including pale coloration, long legs, and reduced lenses.[2]

Chthonopes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Theridiosomatidae
Genus:	Chthonopes Wunderlich, 2011[1]
Type species
C. jaegeri Wunderlich, 2011
Species
C. cavernicola Wunderlich, 2011 – Laos C. jaegeri Wunderlich, 2011 – Laos C. thakekensis Lin, Li & Jäger, 2014 – Laos

See also

• List of Theridiosomatidae species

References

1. "Gen. Chthonopes Wunderlich, 2011". World Spider Catalog Version 20.0. Natural History Museum Bern. 2020. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
2. Wunderlich, J. (2011). "Extant and fossil spiders (Araneae)". Beiträge zur Araneologie. 6: 433–435.

Further reading

• Lin, Y. C.; Li, S. Q.; Jäger, P. (2014). "Four new spider species of the family Theridiosomatidae (Arachnida, Araneae) from caves in Laos". ZooKeys. 391: 75–102.