ARANEIDAE

Biswas, B. & Majumder, S. C., 1995, State Fauna Series 4 Fauna Of Meghalaya, State Fauna Series 4 Fauna of Meghalaya Part 2, Zoological Survey Of India, pp. 93-128 : 93-94

1. Family ARANEIDAE

1806. Araneidae Latreille , Genera Crustaceonum, 1: 82.

1981. Araneidae : Tikader & Bal, Rec. zool. Surv: India, occ. pap. No. 24: 42.

Type genus: Araneus Clerck.

Distribution Cosmopolitan.

Key to the genera of the family Araneidae Latreille

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5. Median eyes closer to each other than the laterals. Tibia I of male is straight and unmodified................. ....................................................................................... Argiope Median eyes not closer to each other than laterals. Tibia I Of male is not straight and unmodified.............................................................................................................2 Spinnerets situated on an elevated circular space surrounded by a thick flange in the form of a ring ................................................................................................ Gasteracantha Spinnerets not situated on an elevated circular space surrounded by a thick flange in a form of ring...........................................................................................................................3 Abdomen elongated; cephalothorax with convex and elevated cephalic region........... ............................................................................................................ Nephila Abdomen oval; cephalothorax without convex and elevated cephalic region............. 4 Thoracic groove longitudinal; epigyne with unwrinkled scape and provided with one or two pairs of lateral lobes................... ................................................................... Neoscona Thoracic groove not longitudinal; epigyne without unwrinkled scape and without lateral lobes............................................................................................................................5 Abdomen pointed over the carapace with a little mid-dorsal projection............. Larinia Abdomen not pointed over the carapace and without little mid-dorsal projection.......6

6. Femora IV with a double fringe of hair on the prolateral surface of the basal half........ ............................................................................................................ Leucauge Femora IV without double fringe of hair on the prolateral surface of the basal half .... 7

7. Integument of abdomen leathery, dorsum of the abdomen strongly convex.................. ....................................................................................................... Cyrtarachne Integument of abdomen not leathery, dorsum of the abdomen not strongly convex.... 8

8. Thoracic groove transverse, epigyne with distinct scape................................. Araneus Thoracic groove not transverse, epigyne without distinct scape .................................. 9

9. Carapace provided with "U" shaped junction between cephalic and thoracic region..... .............................................................................................................. Cyclosa

10.Carapace not provided with "U" shaped junction between cephalic and thoracic region ............................................................................................................. Herennia