Ascuta insula explained

Ascuta insula is a species of Orsolobidae spider of the genus Ascuta. The species is endemic to New Zealand.^[1]

Taxonomy

This species was described in 1985 by Ray Forster and Norman Platnick from a single female specimen collected on Stephens Island. The holotype is stored at the New Zealand Arthropod Collection under registration number NZAC03014990.^[2]

Description

The female is recorded at in length. The carapace and abdomen have patterning on the dorsal surface.

Distribution

This species is only known from Stephens Island, New Zealand.

Conservation status

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as "Naturally Uncommon" with the qualifiers of "One Location".^[3]

Notes and References

1. Forster . R.R . Platnick . N.L . 1985 . A review of the austral spider family Orsolobidae (Arachnida, Araneae), with notes on the superfamily Dysderoidea . Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History . 181 . 1-230.
2. Web site: Specimen Details . 2024-08-04 . scd.landcareresearch.co.nz.
3. Sirvid . P. J. . Vink . C. J. . Fitzgerald . B. M. . Wakelin . M. D. . Rolfe . J. . Michel . P. . 2020-01-01 . Conservation status of New Zealand Araneae (spiders), 2020 . New Zealand Threat Classification Series . English . 34 . 1–37.