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Hypochilus thorelli

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description Hypochilus thorelli Overview

Hypochilus thorelli is a North American spider in the family Hypochilidae, described by George Marx in 1888. It occurs in the Appalachian region and belongs to a lineage commonly called lampshade spiders because its members construct suspended, bell-shaped capture webs. The species is of particular interest to arachnologists studying spider anatomy and evolution because hypochilids retain a combination of characteristics associated with early-diverging araneomorph spiders.

help Hypochilus thorelli FAQ

Why is Hypochilus thorelli called a lampshade spider?

It builds a suspended, bell-shaped capture web that widens downward and is open at the bottom, giving it a lampshade outline. The web begins as a circular silk mat attached to rock or another surface. [Species description](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypochilus_thorelli)

Where does Hypochilus thorelli live?

It is a North American species of the southern Appalachian Mountains, with records in North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. It favors damp, rocky habitats rather than typical indoor webs. [Species range](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypochilus_thorelli)

Who described Hypochilus thorelli?

George Marx described the species in 1888, and it is the type species of the genus Hypochilus. The genus belongs to the family Hypochilidae, the group known for lampshade webs. [Taxonomic history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypochilus_thorelli)

How does Hypochilus thorelli catch prey?

The spider waits on or near its sheet-like web, where small flying insects can become trapped in the silk. Its unusual suspended web is the useful field clue, and the species belongs to the web-building family Hypochilidae. [Hypochilidae overview](https://www.africamuseum.be/sites/default/files/media/docs/research/publications/rmca/online/zoology-documentation/spider-families_of_the_world.pdf)

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