Herennia
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| Herennia | |
|---|---|
 | |
| H. cf. papuana, from New Guinea | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Nephilidae |
| Genus: | Herennia Thorell, 1877[1] |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
| Diversity | |
| 11 species | |
Herennia is a genus of spiders in the family Nephilidae, found from India to northern Australia.[1] While two species have been known since the 19th century, nine new species were described in 2005. Spiders in this genus are sometimes called coin spiders.
While H. multipuncta is invasive and synanthropic, all other known species are endemic to islands.[2]
Like in the related genus Nephilengys, the much smaller males mutilate and sever their pedipalps, which are often found stuck in the epigynum or female genital openings. It is suggested that they act as mating plugs to prevent other males from mating with the female and thereby ensure the paternity of offspring. The males cannot mate subsequently and such "eunuch" individuals continue to stay near the female.[2][3][4]
