''Macrothele calpeiana'', commonly known as the Gibraltar funnel-web spider or Spanish funnel-web spider, is one of the largest
spiders in Europe. ''Macrothele calpeiana'' is the only spider species protected under European Union legislation.
[Arnedo, M.A., Ferrández, M. (2007) "Mitochondrial markers reveal deep population subdivision in the European protected spider ''Macrothele calpeiana'' (Walckenaer, 1805) (Araneae, Hexathelidae)". ''Conserv Genet'' 8, 1147–1162. .]
The satin black colour and long, flexible
spinnerets are characteristic of this spider. The
carapace
A carapace is a Dorsum (biology), dorsal (upper) section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods, such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates, such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tor ...
is low and flat and the eyes are in a compact group. The female resembles the male but has a larger
abdomen. The male can grow to nearly long; females are typically larger. Like all funnel-web spiders, this spider's web is funnel-shaped with trip-threads around the entrance, built among stones and roots. Its geographical range includes
Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = " Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gib ...
,
Spain,
Portugal and north-west
Africa. This species has been observed occasionally in France. The
venom is not deadly to humans.
It is the type species of its genus.
References
*Jiménez-Vlaverde, A. & Lobo, J. M. (2006) "Distribution determinants of endangered Iberian spider ''Macrothele calpeiana'' (Araneae, Hexathelidae)". ''Environmental Entomology'', 35(6): 1491-1499.
*Jiménez-Vlaverde, A. & Lobo, J. M. (2007) "Potential distribution of the endangered spider ''Macrothele calpeiana'' (Walckenaer, 1805) (Araneae, Hexathelidae) and the impact of climate warming". ''Acta Zoologica Sinica'', 53: 865-876. http://www.currentzoology.org/paperdetail.asp?id=6697.
*Jiménez-Vlaverde, A. (2009) "Absence points of ''Macrothele calpeiana'' (Walckenaer, 1805) (Araneae, Hexathelidae) in Morocco (North Africa)". ''Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa'', 44: 559-561.
*Jiménez-Vlaverde, A., García-Díez, T. & Bogaerts, S. (2007) "First records of the endangered spider ''Macrothele calpeiana'' (Walckenaer, 1805) (Hexathelidae) in Portugal". ''Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa'', 41: 445-446.
*Siaud, P. & Raphaël, B., (2013) "First observation in Provence of the southern iberian funnelweb: ''Macrothele calpeiana'' (Walckenaer, 1805)". ''Mésogée.'', 69 : 5- 11, "planches" (board) 1-2.
External links
*
*
Macrothelidae
Fauna of Gibraltar
Spiders of Europe
Spiders of Africa
Spiders described in 1805
{{Mygalomorphae-stub