1970] 
Levi — Genus Eriophora 
295 
seems quite variable. Sometimes it extends as far as the anterior 
spinnerets, sometimes it is shorter, depending perhaps on the size 
of the abdomen. One male from Panama had a hump as well as two 
macrosetae on the posterior edge of the fourth coxae. (All Panama- 
nian E. edax had three or four macrosetae.) 
Diagnosis. This species differs from Eriophora ravilla , the epigy- 
num of which also has a flat scape, by the shield-shaped base of the 
epigynum (Figs. 28-30). In Eriophora ravilla the base of the epigy- 
num has annuli, in Eriophora fuliginea it does not. The median 
apophysis (Fig. 25) of the male differs in lacking the spur present 
in Eriophora ravilla. The distal edge of the median apophysis has 
a flat edge and the shape of the embolus with a flap near the tip 
is characteristic (Fig. 26). 
Natural History. The spider is known to be nocturnal and has 
been observed occasionally to feed on bats, probably Myotis nigricans, 
that become entangled in the large web (Fig. ia) (personal commu- 
nication of M. H. Robinson). 
Distribution. Honduras, Trinidad to western Peru and southeast- 
ern Brazil (Map 2). 
Border Records. Honduras : Tela. Peru. Junin: Amable Maria 
(K. Jelski). Brazil. Rio de Janeiro. 
