Eumenophorinae

The Eumenophorinae are a subfamily of tarantula spiders (family Theraphosidae). They are known from genera distributed across Sub-Saharan Africa, the south of the Arabian peninsula, Madagascar and its associated islands, and parts of India.^[2]

Eumenophorinae
Monocentropus balfouri
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Mygalomorphae
Family:	Theraphosidae
Subfamily:	Eumenophorinae Pocock, 1897[1]
Genera
See text.

Distribution

At about 158-160 million years ago (Mya), Gondwana split up and the Indo-Madagascan plate drifted away from the rest of the super continent. At around 84-86 Mya, India split from Madagascar and drifted into Eurasia (66-55 Mya), to its current position. Therefore, all fauna in Gondwana (such as the Eumenophorinae) would be distributed on all three land masses.^[2]

Characteristics

The Eumenophorinae have stridulatory spike setae on the coxae of all legs, and a "comb" of stiffened setae on the palpal femur. In 2005, Richard Gallon described the monotypic genus Mascaraneus, which lacks the stridulatory spike setae.^[2]

Taxonomy

The monophyly of the Eumenophorinae has been confirmed in a number of molecular phylogenetic studies. However, these have included relatively few of the genera that have been placed in the subfamily at one time or another. A 2014 study included Anoploscelus and Phoneyusa.^[3] A 2018 study included Hysterocrates, Monocentropus and Pelinobius.^[4]

Genera

Genera that have been placed in the subfamily Eumenophorinae by various sources include:

• Annandaliella Hirst, 1909^[4]
• Anoploscelus Pocock, 1897^[5]
• Batesiella Pocock, 1903^[5]
• Encyocrates Simon, 1892^[1][5]
• Eumenophorus Pocock, 1897^[1][5]
• Heterophrictus Pocock, 1900^[2]
• Heteroscodra Pocock, 1900^[1]
• Hysterocrates Simon, 1892^[1][5]
• Loxomphalia Simon, 1889^[1][5]
• Loxoptygus Simon, 1903^[1][5]
• Mascaraneus Gallon, 2005^[6]
• Monocentropus Pocock, 1897^[1][5]
• Myostola Simon, 1903^[1][5]
• Neoheterophrictus Siliwal & Raven, 2012^[2]
• Pelinobius Karsch, 1885 (as Citharischius Pocock, 1900)^[1][5]
• Phoneyusa Karsch, 1884^[1][5]
• Plesiophrictus Pocock, 1899^[2]
• Sahydroaraneus Mirza & Sanap, 2014^[2]
• Stromatopelma Karsch, 1881^[1]