Spiders Of New Zealand
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Spiders Of New Zealand
New Zealand has 1157 described spider species, with an estimated total fauna of 2000 species. Over 97 per cent are endemic, and the rest have been introduced through human activities or were natural wind-borne introductions. The New Zealand spider with the largest leg span is the Nelson cave spider (''Spelungula cavernicola''), with a leg span of up to and a body length. The Australian white-tailed spider, first recorded in New Zealand in 1886, has been falsely attributed as the cause of many necrotising spider bites. The flat huntsman spider (''Delena cancerides''), also from Australia, and called the Avondale spider in New Zealand, was accidentally introduced in the early 1920s, possibly in shipments of hardwood logs used for railway sleepers.Rowell and Avilés (1995). "Sociality in a bark-dwelling huntsman spider from Australia, Delena cancerides Walckenaer (Araneae: Sparassidae)". ''Insectes Sociaux''. Volume 42(3): 287-302 The huntsman spiders, which are considered harmle ...
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Beach Katipo
A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles. The particles composing a beach are typically made from rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, etc., or biological sources, such as mollusc shells or coralline algae. Sediments settle in different densities and structures, depending on the local wave action and weather, creating different textures, colors and gradients or layers of material. Though some beaches form on inland freshwater locations such as lakes and rivers, most beaches are in coastal areas where wave or current action deposits and reworks sediments. Erosion and changing of beach geologies happens through natural processes, like wave action and extreme weather events. Where wind conditions are correct, beaches can be backed by coastal dunes which offer protection and regeneration for the beach. However, these natural forces have become more extreme due to climate change, permanently altering beaches at very rapid r ...
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Dolomedes Minor
''Dolomedes minor'' is a spider in the family Pisauridae that is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known as the nursery web spider. Identification ''Dolomedes minor'' is pale brown with some being grayish, like the rocks around which they live, helping to camouflage them against predators. (Arnqvist, 1992) The spider has large pedipalps, which are usually used for sensory purposes. The palps in the male ''Dolomedes minor'' are modified for putting sperm into the female's epigyne, which is located on the underside of the female's abdomen. The female ''Dolomedes minor'' can easily be identified based on this location of the epigyne. They possess large chelicerae, which are located just below the eyes. (Andrews, 1986) The spider has a body length of about 18 mm. The females are almost twice the size of the males. They move very fast and possess a long leg-span: over sixty millimeters for a fully grown female. Natural global range The family Pisauridae, containing all ...
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Paradictyna
''Paradictyna'' is a genus of South Pacific cribellate araneomorph spiders in the family Dictynidae, and was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1970. it contains only two species, both found in New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...: ''P. ilamia'' and '' P. rufoflava''. References External links * Araneomorphae genera Dictynidae Spiders of New Zealand Taxa named by Raymond Robert Forster {{Dictynidae-stub ...
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Latrodectus Katipo
''Latrodectus'' is a broadly distributed genus of spiders with several species that are commonly known as the true widows. This group is composed of those often loosely called black widow spiders, brown widow spiders, and similar spiders. However, the diversity of species is much greater. A member of the family Theridiidae, this genus contains 34 species, which include several North American "black widows" (southern black widow ''Latrodectus mactans'', western black widow ''Latrodectus hesperus'', and northern black widow ''Latrodectus variolus''). Besides these, North America also has the red widow ''Latrodectus bishopi'' and the brown widow ''Latrodectus geometricus'', which, in addition to North America, has a much wider geographic distribution. Elsewhere, others include the European black widow (''Latrodectus tredecimguttatus''), the Australian redback black widow (''Latrodectus hasseltii'') and the closely related New Zealand katipō (''Latrodectus katipo''), several differ ...
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Lamponidae
Lamponidae is a family of spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1893. It contains about 200 described species in 23 genera, most of which are endemic to Australia, with the genus ''Centrocalia'' endemic to New Caledonia, and two ''Lampona'' species (''L. cylindrata'', ''L. murina'') also occurring in New Zealand where it is commonly known as the "White Tail" spider. ''Lampona papua'' is endemic to New Guinea, where two otherwise Australian species (''Centrothele mutica'', ''Lamponova wau'') also occur. Genera The categorization into subfamilies follows Joel Hallan'Biology Catalog * Centrothelinae Platnick, 2000 :* ''Asadipus'' Simon, 1897 (Australia) :* ''Bigenditia'' Platnick, 2000 (Australia) :* '' Centrocalia'' Platnick, 2000 (New Caledonia) :* '' Centroina'' Platnick, 2002 (Australia) :* ''Centrothele'' L. Koch, 1873 (Australia) :* '' Centsymplia'' Platnick, 2000 (Australia) :* '' Graycassis'' Platnick, 2000 (Australia) :* ''Longepi'' Platnick, 2000 (Australia) :* '' No ...
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Hexathele Hochstetteri
''Hexathele hochstetteri'', commonly known as the banded tunnelweb spider, is a spider in the family Hexathelidae, found only in New Zealand. It is common on the North Island, and uncommon on the South Island. Description The banded tunnelweb spider (''Hexathele hochstetteri'') is among New Zealand's largest spiders, growing up to 20 mm in body length, and is endemic to New Zealand. The easiest way to distinguish a banded tunnelweb spider is to look for the chevron design on its abdomen. The chevron pattern is described as being yellowish, whilst the rest of the abdomen is a darker brown colour. They also have an orange-brown carapace, and six spinnerets. It is these six spinnerets that ultimately distinguish ''Hexathele hochstetteri'' from other genera of Hexathelidae, such as '' Porrhothele'', as they only have four spinnerets. Female banded tunnelweb spider eyes occupy around half their head space, whereas males differ, having slightly smaller lateral eyes. Banded tunne ...
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Haurokoa
''Wiltonia'' is a genus of Polynesian araneomorph spiders in the family Orsolobidae, and was first described by Raymond Robert Forster & Norman I. Platnick in 1985. Species it contains nine species, found only in New Zealand: *''Wiltonia elongata ''Wiltonia'' is a genus of Polynesian Araneomorphae, araneomorph spiders in the family Orsolobidae, and was first described by Raymond Robert Forster & Norman I. Platnick in 1985. Species it contains nine species, found only in New Zealand: *''W ...'' Forster & Platnick, 1985 – New Zealand *'' Wiltonia eylesi'' Forster & Platnick, 1985 – New Zealand *'' Wiltonia fiordensis'' Forster & Platnick, 1985 – New Zealand *'' Wiltonia graminicola'' Forster & Platnick, 1985 ( type) – New Zealand *'' Wiltonia lima'' Forster & Platnick, 1985 – New Zealand *'' Wiltonia nelsonensis'' Forster & Platnick, 1985 – New Zealand *'' Wiltonia pecki'' Forster & Platnick, 1985 – New Zealand *'' Wiltonia porina'' Forster & Platnick, 1985 – N ...
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Gradungulidae
Gradungulidae, also known as large-clawed spiders, is a spider family endemic to Australia and New Zealand. They are medium to large-sized haplogyne spiders with three claws and two pairs of book-lungs similar to Mygalomorphae. Some species build extensive webs with an upper retreat tangle and connecting threads to scaffolding. This supports the ladder-like catching platform that is glued to the ground. ''Progradungula'', a large spider with long legs like '' Hickmania'', and ''Macrogradungula'' are the only cribellate genera of the family. Species '' Gradungula'' Forster, 1955 * ''Gradungula sorenseni'' Forster, 1955 — New Zealand '' Kaiya'' Gray, 1987 * '' Kaiya bemboka'' Gray, 1987 — New South Wales * '' Kaiya brindabella'' (Moran, 1985) — Australian Capital Territory * '' Kaiya parnabyi'' Gray, 1987 — Victoria * ''Kaiya terama'' Gray, 1987 (type species) — New South Wales ''Macrogradungula'' Gray, 1987 * ''Macrogradungula moonya'' Gray, 1987 — Queensland '' Pian ...
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Gradungula
''Gradungula'' is a monotypic genus of South Pacific large-clawed spiders containing the single species, ''Gradungula sorenseni''. It is only found in New Zealand. __TOC__ Etymology The genus name is derived from Latin ' "step" and ' "claw", referring to the enlarged front leg claws of this species. These claws also occur in other species of the family Gradungulidae. The species name "''sorenseni''" is named after Jack Sorensen, the discoverer of the species. Taxonomy ''Gradungula sorenseni'' was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1955. Distribution ''Gradungula sorenseni'' is distributed in forests throughout the western South Island and throughout Stewart Island Stewart Island ( mi, Rakiura, ' glowing skies', officially Stewart Island / Rakiura) is New Zealand's third-largest island, located south of the South Island, across the Foveaux Strait. It is a roughly triangular island with a total land ar .... Forster, R. R., Platnick, N. I. & Gray, M. R. ( ...
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Cryptachaea Veruculata
''Cryptachaea veruculata'' is a spider native to Australia and New Zealand. It has been introduced into England and Belgium.Platnick 2009Yeates & Williams 2006 The species has potential to control spider mites and leafroller caterpillars in New Zealand. Description Females reach a body size of about 4 mm, males only about 1.5 mm. They sometimes build small webs in flowers and green vegetation, but will also build webs in corners of the outer walls of buildings. Taxonomy This species was moved from genus ''Achaearanea'' in 2008. Name Common names include Diamond Comb-footed Spider. In New Zealand, it is also known as just "cobweb spider". Notes References * Yeates, G.W. & Williams, P.A. (2006): Export of Plant and Animal Species from an Insular Biota. in: Biological Invasions in New Zealand. — * Platnick, Norman I. (2009)The world spider catalog version 9.5. ''American Museum of Natural History''. Further reading * Yoshida, Hajime (2008): A revision of the genus ...
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Sheetweb Spider
Stiphidiidae, also called sheetweb spiders, is a family of araneomorph spiders first described in 1917. Most species are medium size ('' Stiphidion facetum'' is about long) and speckled brown with long legs. All members of this family occur in New Zealand and Australia except for ''Asmea''. They build a horizontal sheet-like web under rocks, hence the name "sheetweb spiders". The largest of New Zealand's species is '' Cambridgea foliata'', with a body length up to and a span of up to . Hikers and trampers often find their sheet-like webs that can be up to across, but the spider itself is nocturnal, spending the day time inside its web tunnel. It can also be found in gardens and males may enter human homes. Their large size, including mouth parts up to long, may be intimidating, but it is considered harmless to humans and bites are extremely rare. Genera , the World Spider Catalog accepts the following genera: *''Aorangia'' Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand *''Asmea' ...
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Cambridgea
''Cambridgea'' (common name New Zealand sheetweb spider, bush spider) is a spider genus in the family Desidae and some of the first endemic spiders described from New Zealand. They are known for constructing large horizontal sheet webs measuring up to a square metre in larger species. ''Cambridgea'' were originally assigned to the Agelenidae by Dalmas in 1917 but were reassigned to the Stiphidiidae in 1973. Most recently, both ''Cambridgea'' and sister genus ''Nanocambridgea'' were reassigned to the Desidae, subfamily Porteriinae on the basis of molecular evidence. Description ''Cambridgea'' are medium to large arboreal spiders, with body lengths ranging from approximately 6-10mm in the case of '' Cambridgea reinga'' to about 20mm in the case of '' Cambridgea foliata''. They have long legs and porrect chelicerae which are significantly longer in adult males compared to adult females. Male pedipalps are characterised by a cymbium that extends well beyond the bulb and species ca ...
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