Gradungula Explained

Gradungula is a monotypic genus of South Pacific large-clawed spiders containing the single species, Gradungula sorenseni. It is only found in New Zealand.^[1]

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Etymology

The genus name is derived from Latin Latin: [[:wikt:gradus|gradus]] "step" and Latin: [[:wikt:ungula|ungula]] "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.^[2]

Taxonomy

Gradungula sorenseni was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1955.^[3]

Distribution

Gradungula sorenseni is distributed in forests throughout the western South Island and throughout Stewart Island. ^[4]

Notes and References

1. Gen. Gradungula Forster, 1955. World Spider Catalog Version 20.0. 2019-06-07. 2019. Natural History Museum Bern. 10.24436/2.
2. Forster, Ray; Forster, Lyn (1999). Spiders Of New Zealand And Their World Wide Kin. Otago, New Zealand: University of Otago Press. pp. 119–124.
3. Forster. R. R.. 1955. A new family of spiders of the sub-order Hypochilomorphae.. Pacific Science. 277–285. 9. 10125/12859.
4. Forster, R. R., Platnick, N. I. & Gray, M. R. (1987). A review of the spider superfamilies Hypochiloidea and Austrochiloidea (Araneae, Araneomorphae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 185: 1-116.