The genus Taczanowskia of the orb-weaver spider, family Araneidae (Aranea)

Abstract

ONLY FOUR SPECIES OF TACZANOWSKIA ARE KNOWN AND ONLY ONE MALE HAS BEEN FOUND. ALL AREA TROPICAL AMERICAN. THE UNUSUAL LEG CLAWS, A LONG CLAW AND A SHORT ONE ON THE FIRST TWO LEGS, SUGGEST THAT THESE SPIDERS CATCH THEIR PREY BY SPEARING THEM RATHER THAN SNARING THEM IN A WEB. THESE MODIFICATIONS RELATE THE GENUS TO THE AUSTRALIAN CELAENIA.