Tricassa
| Tricassa | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Lycosidae |
| Genus: | Tricassa Simon[1] |
| Species | |
| |
Tricassa is a genus of African spiders in the family Lycosidae with two species. It was first described in 1910 by Eugène Simon.[1]
Description
The genus is recognized by the long anterior spinnerets, the large shaft-like longitudinal median apophysis in the male palp, the simple epigyne with papillose surface of the scape, and the long winding copulatory ducts in the female.[2]
The carapace is uniformly pale yellowish white without median or lateral coloured bands as present in many other lycosids. The profile is domed, not falling sharply towards the posterior margin. The abdomen is almost completely uniformly pale yellow with no abdominal colour pattern, sometimes with a pink glimmer or somewhat transparent showing the main blood vessel, and has a group of stronger hairs on its dorso-basal edge. The ventral surface is uniformly pale yellow.[2]
The legs are long and slender, uniform pale yellow without darker patches or annulations.[2]
Life style
Tricassa are free-running ground dwellers. The genus seems to be restricted to coastal areas where it prefers sandy beaches.[2]
Species
As of October 2025, this genus includes two species:[1]
- Tricassa deserticola Simon, 1910 – Namibia, South Africa (type species)
- Tricassa madagascariensis Jocqué & Alderweireldt, 2001 – Madagascar
References
- ^ a b c "Genus Tricassa". World Spider Catalog. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2025-10-02.
- ^ a b c d Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Lycosidae of South Africa. Version 1: part 2 (L-Z). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 69. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6324723. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.