The Lampshade spiders of the family Hypochilidae are among the most primitive of araneomorph spiders. There are two genera and eleven species currently recognized. Like mygalomorphs, hypochilids have two pairs of book lungs, but like araneomorphs they have intersecting fangs. These long-legged spiders build typical "lampshade" style webs under overhangs and in caves. In the United States the fauna is primarily associated with the Appalachian, Rocky and California Mountains. Ten of the known species are found in these ranges, all in the genus Hypochilus. The monotypic genus Ectatosticta is found in China.
Bibliography
- How to Know the Spiders by B. J. Kaston. Dubuque, 1953.
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