Electrocteniza
Name:
Electrocteniza
(Amber Cteniza).
Phonetic: E-lek-tro-ten-se-ah.
Named By: K. Y. Eskov & S. L.
Zonstein - 2000.
Classification: Arthropoda, Arachnida, Araneae,
Opisthothelae, Mygalomorphae, Ctenizidae.
Species: E. sadilenkoi
(type).
Diet: Insectivore.
Size: Carapace on thorax is 2.63 millimetres,
Abdomen is 2.50 millimetres. Total body length including the
chelicerae (fangs) is 5.88 millimetres long.
Known locations: Russia - Baltic coast.
Time period: Priabonian of the Eocene.
Fossil representation: Single male almost perfectly
preserved in Baltic amber.
Electrocteniza
is a genus of trapdoor spider that lived in North East Europe during
the Eocene. Like other trapdoor spiders, Electrocteniza
would have
either lined an existing crevice with silk or dug out a burrow in soft
dirt, and then sealed this area with a hinged door. When insects
came close to the entrance, the spider would rush out of its lair,
dragging the insect inside after delivering a bite. Electrocteniza
was named at the same time as another genus of trapdoor spider called
Baltocteniza,
though Electrocteniza is
differentiated by raised eye
tubercles.
Baltic
Amber is the result of tree resins solidifying during the Eocene
Epoch. Small animals such as insects and spiders were preserved
inside this resin when it was runny, and were near perfectly
preserved for well over thirty million years afterwards. Much
Baltic amber is small and preserved in sediments on the bottom of the
Baltic sea, however because amber typically floats in salt water,
lots of small chunks of amber are washed up on the coastlines of the
Baltic sea, especially in countries such as Poland and Russia.
Further reading
- The first ctenizoid mygalomorph spiders from Eocene Baltic amber
(Araneida: Mygalomorphae: Ctenizidae). Paleontological
Journal 34(Suppl 3):S268-S274. - K. Y. Eskov &
S. L. Zonstein - 2000.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Random favourites
 |
 |
 |