Eumenophorinae
# Eumenophorinae

The Eumenophorinae are a subfamily of tarantula spiders (family Theraphosidae). They are known from genera distributed across Sub-Saharan Africa, the south of the Arabian peninsula, Madagascar and its associated islands, and parts of India.

## Distribution

At about 158-160 million years ago (Mya), Gondwana split up and the Indo-Madagascan plate drifted away from the rest of the super continent. At around 84-86 Mya, India split from Madagascar and drifted into Eurasia (66-55 Mya), to its current position. Therefore, all fauna in Gondwana (such as the Eumenophorinae) would be distributed on all three land masses.

## Characteristics

The Eumenophorinae have stridulatory spike setae on the coxae of all legs, and a "comb" of stiffened setae on the palpal femur. In 2005, Richard Gallon described the monotypic genus Mascaraneus, which lacks the stridulatory spike setae.

## Taxonomy

The monophyly of the Eumenophorinae has been confirmed in a number of molecular phylogenetic studies. However, these have included relatively few of the genera that have been placed in the subfamily at one time or another. A 2014 study included Anoploscelus and Phoneyusa. A 2018 study included Hysterocrates, Monocentropus and Pelinobius.

### Genera

Genera that have been placed in the subfamily Eumenophorinae by various sources include:

* Annandaliella Hirst, 1909
* Anoploscelus Pocock, 1897
* Batesiella Pocock, 1903
* Encyocrates Simon, 1892
* Eumenophorus Pocock, 1897
* Heterophrictus Pocock, 1900
* Heteroscodra Pocock, 1900
* Hysterocrates Simon, 1892
* Loxomphalia Simon, 1889
* Loxoptygus Simon, 1903
* Mascaraneus Gallon, 2005
* Monocentropus Pocock, 1897
* Myostola Simon, 1903
* Neoheterophrictus Siliwal & Raven, 2012
* Pelinobius Karsch, 1885 (as Citharischius Pocock, 1900)
* Phoneyusa Karsch, 1884
* Plesiophrictus Pocock, 1899
* Sahydroaraneus Mirza & Sanap, 2014
* Stromatopelma Karsch, 1881
