User:Sharik1998/Raveniola

Intro
Raveniola is the fifth largest genus of spiders in the Nemesiidae family. Nemesiidae is part of the Mygalomorphae infraorder, which includes false tarantulas and trapdoor spiders. There are currently 37 known species of Raveniola throughout Central Asia and the Middle East. Raveniola species are typically endemic to small regions. Spiders in this genus are not very wide-ranging and live a sedentary lifestyle. Species in this genus typically live for around 15-30 years.

Characteristics
Raveniola differs from other genera of Nemesiidae in morphology. Spiders in the genus Raveniola are typically medium to large in size, with a carapace 4-14 mm long. Species of the Raveniola genus can be light brown, reddish brown, or dark brown. The eye tubercles are low to moderately developed. The tufts of hair at the end of their legs, scopula, is long and dense. The male palpal organ, located at the front limbs of the spider, is moderate in size. A distinguishing feature of Raveniola is the unpaired tarsal claw and integral tarsi. Like many other spiders, species of Raveniola have venom glands. Their fangs point straight down,which differs from araneomorphae whose fangs cross diagonally.

Ecology
The genus Raveniola mainly inhabits mountainous regions, but can also be found as low as sea level. The habitats include different forests, steppes, and meadows. This genus of spiders are ground dwellers, some of them using the abandoned burrows of rodents. The females live in burrows lined with silk about 1-50 cm deep. This genus is euryphagous, meaning they eat various types of food including insects.

Evolution
Raveniola is related to tarantulas and their kin. They are considered primitive spider because they evolved before modern spiders. The fossil record indicates that spiders from the infraorder Mygalomorphae date back to the Triassic period. The genus Raveniola it is most closely related to is Sinopesa.

Taxonomy

 * Kingdom: Animalia
 * Phylum: Arthropoda
 * Class: Arachnida
 * Order: Araneae
 * Infraorder: Mygalomorphae


 * Family: Nemesiidae
 * Genus: Raveniola