<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> 29 species </Td> </Tr> <P> Atypus is a genus of mygalomorph spider, the purse web spiders . It occurs in Eurasia, with one species (A. affinis) reaching into North Africa, and one species (A. snetsingeri) in the USA . Only three of the described species occur in Europe: A. piceus, A. affinis, and A. muralis . </P> <P> Peasants in the southern 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 (which is made of protein). </P> <P> They are three - clawed, medium to large spiders with eight eyes . They have six spinnerets with the median spinneret truncated . The prolateral sides of the maxillae are elongated . The cephalic side of the cephalothorax is elevated . They have large chelicerae with long and thin fangs . The male sternum has marginal ridges . </P>

Heimer s. (1988). wunderbare welt der spinnen. urania. p.14