# Atypus

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{{Short description|Genus of spiders}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = 
| image = Atypus_karschi.jpg
| image_caption = ''[A. karschi](/source/Atypus_karschi)''
| image2 = Atypus affinis natur.jpg
| image2_caption = ''Atypus affinis''
| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Palaeogene|present}}
| taxon = Atypus
| authority = [Latreille](/source/Pierre_Andr%C3%A9_Latreille), 1804<ref name=wsc />
| type_species = ''[A. piceus](/source/Atypus_piceus)''
| type_species_authority = ([Sulzer](/source/Johann_Heinrich_Sulzer), 1776)
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = 38, see text
| synonyms = *''Proatypus'' <small>Miller, 1947</small><ref name=Krau1974 />
| synonyms_ref = <ref name=wsc />
}}

'''''Atypus''''', also called '''purseweb spiders''', is a [genus](/source/genus) of  [atypical tarantulas](/source/Atypidae) first described by [Pierre André Latreille](/source/Pierre_Andr%C3%A9_Latreille) in 1804.<ref name=Latr1804 /> It occurs in [Eurasia](/source/Eurasia), with one species (''A. affinis'') reaching into [North Africa](/source/North_Africa).<ref name=wsc /> Only three of the described species occur in Europe: ''A. piceus'', ''A. affinis'', and ''A. muralis''.<ref name=wsc /> Specimens from the USA formerly known as ''A. snetsingeri'' represent an introduced population of ''A. karschi''.<ref name="Řezáč et al. 2022" />

==Identification features==
They are three-clawed, medium to large spiders with eight eyes. They have six [spinnerets](/source/spinneret_(spider)) with the median spinneret truncated. The prolateral sides of the maxillae are elongated. The cephalic side of the [cephalothorax](/source/cephalothorax) is elevated. They have large [chelicerae](/source/chelicerae) with long and thin fangs. The male sternum has marginal ridges.<ref name=sebastin />

==Medical usage==
The cobwebs produced by spiders in the genus ''Atypus'', called Huidouba, have traditionally been consumed in [Sichuan](/source/Sichuan) and [Tibet](/source/Tibet) to manage the symptoms of [diabetes](/source/diabetes). Several studies have corroborated their therapeutic effects.<ref name=":0" />

Peasants in the southern [Carpathian Mountains](/source/Carpathian_Mountains) used to cut up tubes built by ''Atypus'' and cover wounds with the inner lining. It reportedly facilitated healing and even connected with the skin. This is believed to be due to antiseptic properties of [spider silk](/source/spider_silk) (which is made of [protein](/source/protein)).<ref name="Heimer" /> ''Atypus'' cobwebs have also been used in [Sichuan](/source/Sichuan) and [Tibet](/source/Tibet) to manage the symptoms of [diabetes](/source/diabetes).<ref name=":0" />

==Species==
{{as of|2025|10}}, this genus includes 38 species:<ref name="wsc" />
{{Div col}}
* ''[Atypus affinis](/source/Atypus_affinis)'' <small>Eichwald, 1830</small> – Europe (Britain and Portugal to Ukraine), North Africa
* ''[Atypus baotianmanensis](/source/Atypus_baotianmanensis)'' <small>Hu, 1994</small> – [China](/source/China)
* ''[Atypus baotingensis](/source/Atypus_baotingensis)'' <small>F. Li, Xu, Z. T. Zhang, Liu, H. L. Zhang & D. Q. Li, 2018</small> – China (Hainan)
* ''[Atypus coreanus](/source/Atypus_coreanus)'' <small>Kim, 1985</small> – [Korea](/source/Korea)
* ''[Atypus dawei](/source/Atypus_dawei)'' <small>Y. X. Li & Xu, 2025</small> – China
* ''[Atypus dorsualis](/source/Atypus_dorsualis)'' <small>[Thorell](/source/Tamerlan_Thorell), 1897</small> – [Myanmar](/source/Myanmar), [Thailand](/source/Thailand)
* ''[Atypus flexus](/source/Atypus_flexus)'' <small>Zhu, Zhang, Song & Qu, 2006</small> – China
* ''[Atypus formosensis](/source/Atypus_formosensis)'' <small>Kishida, 1943</small> – [Taiwan](/source/Taiwan)
* ''[Atypus heterothecus](/source/Atypus_heterothecus)'' <small>Zhang, 1985</small> – China
* ''[Atypus javanus](/source/Atypus_javanus)'' <small>Thorell, 1890</small> – [Indonesia](/source/Indonesia) (Java)
* ''[Atypus jianfengensis](/source/Atypus_jianfengensis)'' <small>F. Li, Xu, Z. T. Zhang, Liu, H. L. Zhang & D. Q. Li, 2018</small> – China (Hainan)
* ''[Atypus karschi](/source/Atypus_karschi)'' <small>Dönitz, 1887</small> – Korea, China, Taiwan, [Japan](/source/Japan). Introduced to [United States](/source/United_States)
* ''[Atypus lannaianus](/source/Atypus_lannaianus)'' <small>Schwendinger, 1989</small> – Thailand
* ''[Atypus largosaccatus](/source/Atypus_largosaccatus)'' <small>Zhu, Zhang, Song & Qu, 2006</small> – China
* ''[Atypus ledongensis](/source/Atypus_ledongensis)'' <small>Zhu, Zhang, Song & Qu, 2006</small> – China
* ''[Atypus liui](/source/Atypus_liui)'' <small>Y. X. Li & Xu, 2025</small> – China
* ''[Atypus magnus](/source/Atypus_magnus)'' <small>Namkung, 1986</small> – [Russia](/source/Russia) (Far East), Korea
* ''[Atypus medius](/source/Atypus_medius)'' <small>Oliger, 1999</small> – Russia (Far East)
* ''[Atypus minutus](/source/Atypus_minutus)'' <small>S. Y. Lee, J. H. Lee, Yoo & Kim, 2015</small> – Korea
* ''[Atypus muralis](/source/Atypus_muralis)'' <small>Bertkau, 1890</small> – Central Europe to Turkmenistan
* ''[Atypus pedicellatus](/source/Atypus_pedicellatus)'' <small>Zhu, Zhang, Song & Qu, 2006</small> – China
* ''[Atypus piceus](/source/Atypus_piceus)'' <small>(Sulzer, 1776)</small> – Europe (France to Russia), [Iran](/source/Iran) (type species)
* ''[Atypus quelpartensis](/source/Atypus_quelpartensis)'' <small>Namkung, 2002</small> – Korea
* ''[Atypus sacculatus](/source/Atypus_sacculatus)'' <small>Zhu, Zhang, Song & Qu, 2006</small> – China
* ''[Atypus seogwipoensis](/source/Atypus_seogwipoensis)'' <small>Kim, Ye & Noh, 2015</small> – Korea
* ''[Atypus sinensis](/source/Atypus_sinensis)'' <small>[Schenkel](/source/Ehrenfried_Schenkel-Haas), 1953</small> – China
* ''[Atypus siyiensis](/source/Atypus_siyiensis)'' <small>Wu, Liu, Huang, Yin & Xu, 2025</small> – China
* ''[Atypus sternosulcus](/source/Atypus_sternosulcus)'' <small>Kim, Kim, Jung & Lee, 2006</small> – Korea
* ''[Atypus suiningensis](/source/Atypus_suiningensis)'' <small>Zhang, 1985</small> – China
* ''[Atypus suthepicus](/source/Atypus_suthepicus)'' <small>Schwendinger, 1989</small> – Thailand
* ''[Atypus sutherlandi](/source/Atypus_sutherlandi)'' <small>Chennappaiya, 1935</small> – [India](/source/India)
* ''[Atypus suwonensis](/source/Atypus_suwonensis)'' <small>Kim, Kim, Jung & Lee, 2006</small> – Korea
* ''[Atypus tibetensis](/source/Atypus_tibetensis)'' <small>Zhu, Zhang, Song & Qu, 2006</small> – China
* ''[Atypus wataribabaorum](/source/Atypus_wataribabaorum)'' <small>[Tanikawa](/source/%3Aspecies%3AAkio_Tanikawa), 2006</small> – Japan
* ''[Atypus wii](/source/Atypus_wii)'' <small>Siliwal, Kumar & [Raven](/source/Robert_Raven), 2014</small> – India
* ''[Atypus yajuni](/source/Atypus_yajuni)'' <small>Zhu, Zhang, Song & Qu, 2006</small> – China
* ''[Atypus yanjingensis](/source/Atypus_yanjingensis)'' <small>Wu, Liu, Huang, Yin & Xu, 2025</small> – China
* ''[Atypus yaozu](/source/Atypus_yaozu)'' <small>Wu, Liu, Huang, Yin & Xu, 2025</small> – China
{{Div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
  <ref name="wsc">{{cite web | url=https://wsc.nmbe.ch/genus/431 | title=Gen. ''Atypus'' Latreille, 1804 | publisher=World Spider Catalog  | doi=10.24436/2 | accessdate=2025-10-21}}</ref>
  <ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Yan |first1=Li-Shan |last2=Cheng |first2=Brian Chi-Yan |last3=Zhang |first3=Shuo-Feng |last4=Luo |first4=Gan |last5=Zhang |first5=Chao |last6=Wang |first6=Qing-Gao |last7=Fu |first7=Xiu-Qiong |last8=Wang |first8=Yi-Wei |last9=Zhang |first9=Yi |date=2021-10-21 |title=Tibetan Medicine for Diabetes Mellitus: Overview of Pharmacological Perspectives |journal=Frontiers in Pharmacology |volume=12 |article-number=748500 |doi=10.3389/fphar.2021.748500 |doi-access=free |issn=1663-9812 |pmc=8566911 |pmid=34744728}}</ref>
  <ref name="Heimer">{{cite book| last=Heimer| first=Stefan| year=1988| title=Wunderbare Welt der Spinnen| publisher=Urania| page=14| language=German| isbn=3-332-00210-4}}</ref>
  <ref name="Krau1974">{{cite journal| last1=Kraus| first1=O.| last2=Baur| first2=H.| year=1974| title=Die Atypidae der West-Paläarktis: Systematik, Verbreitung und Biologie (Arach.: Araneae)| journal=Abhandlungen und Verhandlungen des Naturwissenschaftlichen Vereins in Hamburg |series=Neue Folge | volume=17| page=88}}</ref>
  <ref name="Latr1804">{{cite journal| last=Latreille| first=P. A.| year=1804| title=Tableau methodique des Insectes | journal=Nouveau Dictionnaire d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris| pages=129–295| volume=24}}</ref>
  <ref name="sebastin">{{cite book| editor-last=Sebastin| editor-first=P.A.| editor-first2=K.V.| editor-last2=Peter| year=2009| title=Spiders of India| publisher=Universities Press| isbn=978-81-7371-641-6}}</ref>
  <ref name="Řezáč et al. 2022">{{cite journal |last1=Řezáč |first1=Milan |last2=Tessler |first2=Steven |last3=Heneberg |first3=Petr |last4=Herrera |first4=Ivalú Macarena Ávila |last5=Gloríková |first5=Nela |last6=Forman |first6=Martin |last7=Řezáčová |first7=Veronika |last8=Král |first8=Jiří |title=''Atypus karschi'' Dönitz, 1887 (Araneae: Atypidae): An Asian purse-web spider established in Pennsylvania, USA |journal=PLOS ONE |date=2022 |volume=17 |issue=7 |article-number=e0261695 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0261695 |pmid=35797267 |pmc=9262232 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2022PLoSO..1761695R }}</ref>
}}

==External links==
* {{inaturalist taxon}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q98771}}

Category:Atypidae
Category:Mygalomorphae genera
Category:Spiders of Asia
Category:Spiders of Africa
Category:Taxa named by Pierre André Latreille

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Atypus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atypus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atypus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.