title: Eumenophorinae
text: # 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
  