Cataxia bolganupensis explained

Cataxia bolganupensis, also known as the Porongurup trapdoor spider, is a species of mygalomorph spider in the Idiopidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 1985 by Australian arachnologist Barbara York Main. The specific epithet refers to the type locality.^{[1] [2]}

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in southern Western Australia in the Mallee bioregion, in wet karri forest on the south side of the Porongurup Range. The type locality is a track on Nancy Peak above Bolganup Dam, in Porongurup National Park, some north of Albany.^{[1] [2]}

In early 2024, a team of volunteers headed by experts relocated around 40 of the spiders to a nearby location after plans were made to build a picnic area over their burrows.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Species Cataxia bolganupensis (Main, 1985) . . 2023-02-03. Australian Faunal Directory . Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia . 2023-08-11.
2. Rix. MG. Bain . K . Main . BY . Raven . RJ . Austin . AD . Cooper . SJB . Harvey . MS . 2017 . Systematics of the spiny trapdoor spiders of the genus Cataxia (Mygalomorphae: Idiopidae) from southwestern Australia: Documenting a threatened fauna in a sky-island landscape. Journal of Arachnology . 45. 3. 395–423 [404]. 10.1636/0161-8202-45.1.451 . 2023-08-11.
3. Web site: Thannoo . Jamie . Experts, citizen scientists team up to rescue rare trapdoor spiders in WA's Porongurup Range . ABC News . 15 February 2024 . 18 February 2024.