Women in Arachnology
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An online checklist of matronymic genera in spiders
Version 1.0 | Danniella Sherwood
There are over 4350 currently valid spider genera according to Version 24.5 of the World Spider Catalog (https://www.wsc.nmbe.ch). Women have been significantly underrepresented in arachnology, but recognition for their achievements is slowly becoming more prevalent. This online checklist shows all genera named for women or named after a female given name. It is an expansion of a previous article which focused on matronymic genera described for arachnologists only (Marusik & Sherwood, 2022). Names are listed as they are maintained in the World Spider Catalog, followed by the current family placement in ( ) and the status of the genus (i.e. valid or invalid) in [ ]. This checklist was compiled during late evenings on aeroplanes, trains, in the jungle and in the desert during 2022–2023. It would not have been possible without the encouragement of colleagues, especially Yuri Marusik and Jan Beccaloni. I also thank Yuri, Jan, and Mercedes Burns for comments which improved the initial version; also Ivan Magalhaes who brought two genera to my attention which were overlooked in the previously cited paper. Please send additions and corrections to: (danni[dot]sherwood[at]hotmail[dot]com).
For a comprehensive discussion of most of these names, see Marusik, Y. M. & Sherwood, D. 2022. Matronymic genera in spiders (Araneae) named for arachnologists. Arachnology 19(Special Issue): 150–157.
Ansiea Lehtinen, 2004 (Thomisidae) [valid] Honours Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman, South Africa.
Ansienulina Wesołowska, 2015 (Salticidae) [valid] Honours Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman, South Africa.
Bacelarella Berland & Millot, 1941 (Salticidae) [valid] Honours Amélia Bacelar, Portugal.
Bryantella Chickering, 1946 (Salticidae) [valid] Honours Elizabeth Bangs Bryant, American
Bryantina Brignoli, 1985 (Pholcidae) [invalid] Honours Elizabeth Bangs Bryant, United States.
Bryantia Mello-Leitão, 1946 (Pholcidae) [invalid] Honours Elizabeth Bangs Bryant, United States.
Buckupiella Brescovit, 1997 (Anyphaenidae) [valid] Honours Erica Buckup, Brazil.
Bymainiella Raven, 1978 (Hexathelidae) [valid] Honours Barbara York Main, Australia.
Chatzakia Lissner & Bosmans, 2016 (Gnaphosidae) [valid] Honours Maria Chatzaki, Greece.
Daviesa Koçak & Kemal, 2008 (Amaurobiidae) [valid] Honours Valerie Todd Davies, Australia.
Deelemanella Yoshida, 2003 (Theridiidae) [valid] Honours Christa Deeleman-Reinhold, Dutch
Deelemania Jocqué & Bosmans, 1983 (Linyphiidae) [valid] Honours Christa Deeleman-Reinhold, The Netherlands.
Deelemanikara Jäger, 2021 (Sparassidae) [valid] Honours Christa Deeleman-Reinhold, The Netherlands.
Dippenaaria Wunderlich, 1995 (Anapidae) [valid] Honours Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman, South Africa.
Ericaella Bonaldo, 1994 (Cheiracanthiidae) [valid] Honours Erica Buckup, Brazil.
Galianoella Goloboff, 2000 (Gallieniellidae) [valid] Honours Maria Elena Galiano, Argentina.
Galianora Maddison, 2006 (Salticidae) [valid] Honours Maria Elena Galiano, Argentina.
Hahniharmia Wunderlich, 2004 (Hahniidae) [valid] Honours Marie Harm, Germany.
Harmiella Brignoli, 1979 (Hahniidae) [valid] Honours Marie Harm, Germany.
Hoffmannilena Maya-Morales & Jiménez, 2016 [valid] Honours Anita Hoffmann, Mexico.
Katya Prószyński & Deeleman-Reinhold, 2010 (Salticidae) [valid] Honours Katarzyna Andrejewa-Prószyńska, Poland (born in modern day Uzbekistan).
Lubinella Opell, 1984 (Uloboridae) [valid] Honours Yael Lubin, Israel.
Mainosa Framenau, 2006 (Lycosidae) [valid] Honours Barbara York-Main, Australia.
Malenella Ramírez, 1995 (Amaurobiidae) [valid] Honours Maria Elena Galiano, Argentina.
Okumaella Yoshida, 2009 (Theridiidae) [valid] Honours Chiyoko Okuma, Japan.
Pikelinia Mello-Leitão, 1946 [invalid] Honours Berta Gerschman de Pikelín, Argentina.
Schiapellia Mello-Leitão, 1938 [invalid] Honours Rita Schiapelli, Argentina.
Sestakovaia Zamani & Marusik, 2021 (Liocranidae) [valid] Honours Anna Šestáková, Slovakia.
Staveleya Sherwood, 2021 (Linyphiidae) [valid] Honours Eliza Staveley, England.
Toddiana Forster, 1988 (Cyatholipidae) [invalid] Honours Valerie Todd Davies, New Zealand
Wandawe Azarkina & Haddad, 2020 (Salticidae) [valid] Honours Wanda Wesołowska, Poland.
Wesolowskana Koçak & Kemal, 2008 (Salticidae) [valid] Honours Wanda Wesołowska, Poland.
Knoelle Framenau, 2006 (Lycosidae) [valid] Named for Hildegard Framenau, mother of Volker Framenau.
Lidia Saaristo & Marusik, 2004 (Linyphiidae) [valid] Named for Lidia Saaristo, mother of Michael Saaristo.
Sheranapis Platnick & Forster, 1989 (Anapidae) [valid] Named for Nancy (Sher) Platnick, spouse of Norm Platnick.
Thunberga Jäger, 2020 (Sparassidae) [valid] Named for climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Tybaertiella Jocqué, 1979 (Linyphiidae) [valid] Named for Elizabeth Tybaert, spouse of Rudy Jocqué.
Corinna C. L. Koch, 1841 (Corinnidae) [valid]
Erica Peckham & Peckham, 1892 (Salticidae) [valid]
Freya C. L. Koch, 1850 (Salticidae) [valid]
Hilaira Simon, 1884 (Linyphiidae) [valid]
Portia Karsch, 1878 (Salticidae) [valid]
Brigittea Lehtinen, 1967 (Dictynidae) [valid]
Marilynia Lehtinen, 1967 (Dictynidae) [valid]
Matilda Forster, 1988 (Cyatholipidae) [valid]
Jessica Brescovit, 1997 (Anyphaenidae) [valid]