Olios is the largest genus of huntsman spiders, containing 166 species.[1] They are found throughout the world, with most species occurring in hot countries.[1] The genus was first described by Charles Athanase Walckenaer in 1837.[1]

Olios
Olios lamarcki
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Sparassidae
Genus: Olios
Walckenaer, 1837
Type species
Olios argelasius
Species

165, see text.

Synonyms
  • Nisueta Simon, 1880[2]
  • Nonianus Simon, 1885[2]

Description

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They are small to large Sparassidae, that have eight eyes in two partially straight rows. For the smaller species of this genus, they are usually light brown to brown with darker areas. Most larger species are darker, and some members of this genus may also be green. They are nocturnal hunters.[2]

Habitat

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As this genus is widespread, they are found in a large variety of habitats, from savannahs to rainforest. They are mainly found in vegetation, and rarely houses. They are sometimes shipped alongside fruit, but this is not a common occurrence.[2]

 
Olios giganteus with prey
 
Olios sericeus

Species

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As of November 2022 it contains 166 species, according to the World Spider Catalogue:[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Platnick, Norman I. (7 July 2021). "Fam. Sparassidae". The World Spider Catalog, Version 22.0. New York, NY, USA: American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.iz.0001. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Jäger, Peter (2020). "The spider genus Olios Walckenaer, 1837 (Araneae: Sparassidae) – Part 1: species groups, diagnoses, identification keys, distribution maps and revision of the argelasius-, coenobitus- and auricomis-groups". Zootaxa. 4866 (1): 1–119. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4866.1.1. PMID 33311200. S2CID 226330426.