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Pirata (spider)

Pirata is a genus of wolf spiders (family Lycosidae), commonly known as pirate wolf spiders.

Distribution

Spiders in this genus have been described from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, with few reaching down to Argentina.

They are found in most of Europe.

Lifestyle

Members of Pirata occur typically around bodies of water, upon which they run with great ease, or in bogs, swamps and marshes. The spiders dive into the water and an air bubble is trapped around the body for breathing. The water wolf spiders live on plants close to dams and rivers and in contrast with grass-living wolf spiders, they are more social and several spiders can live together on one water plant.

Description

Pirata species range from 6–7 mm in total length for females and 5–6 mm for males.

The carapace has a head region that is slightly flattened, and is as high in the thoracic region as in the cephalic region. The cephalic region has a dark V-shaped mark within the central pale region. The anterior eye row is not procurved. There is a narrow white band around the edge.

The abdomen is dark brown with two distinct rows of white spots. Legs are long, the same colour as the body, and strongly mottled. There are spots on the abdomen and pale brown to dark grey mottling.

Species

, this genus includes 49 species:

References