''Progradungula carraiensis'', or the Carrai cave spider, is a

cribellate Cribellum literally means "little sieve", and in biology the term generally applies to anatomical structures in the form of tiny perforated plates. In certain groups of diatoms it refers to microscopically punctured regions of the frustule, or o ...

spider found only in the moist forests and limestone caves of the

Carrai Plateau ''Carrai'' is a monotypic genus of Australian spiders in the family Euagridae. It contains the single species, ''Carrai afoveolata''. It was first described by Robert Raven Robert John Raven is an Australian arachnologist, being the Head of ...

in northern

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

. It is one of only two species in the gradungulid

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

Progradungula ''Progradungula'' is a genus of Australian large-clawed spiders that was first described by Raymond Robert Forster & Michael R. Gray in 1979. it contains only two species: '' P. carraiensis'' and '' P. otwayensis''. The name is derived from La ...

. These spiders are 8 to 12 mm long, with long and slender legs. They specialize in eating insects that feed on

bat guano Guano (Spanish from qu, wanu) is the accumulated excrement of seabirds or bats. As a manure, guano is a highly effective fertilizer due to the high content of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium, all key nutrients essential for plant growth. ...

in the Carrai Plateau caves. To catch prey, they build a special web with an upper network of threads attached to the rock walls. This supports a small (25 x 6 mm) platform made of cribellate silk. The spider sits head down on the platform and extends its front legs until the enlarged tarsal claws on their front legs are just above the ground. With these, they then scoop their prey into their web, which wraps around the insect.

External links

Information and picture of ''Progradungula carraiensis''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q612443 Gradungulidae Spiders of Australia Cave spiders Spiders described in 1979