Hexathele petriei explained

Hexathele petriei is a species of Mygalomorph spider endemic to New Zealand.^[1]

Taxonomy

This species was described as Hexathele petrieii in 1887 by Peter Goyen from female and male specimens collected in Otago.^[2] The original material has since been lost. It was most recently revised in 1968 by Ray Forster. The neotype is stored in Otago Museum.

Description

The female is recorded at 18mm in length. The carapace and legs are pale yellow brown. The abdomen is yellow with a dark patch dorsally.

Distribution and habitat

This species is only known from Central Otago, New Zealand. It occurs in dry open habitat. Its burrows have been found in associated with Raoulia eximia.

Conservation status

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as Not Threatened.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Forster . Raymond Robert . Wilton . Cecil Louis . 1968-01-01 . The Spiders of New Zealand Part II: Ctenizidae, Dipluridae & Migidae . Otago Museum bulletin . 2 . 1–166.
2. Goyen . P . 1887 . Descriptions of new spiders . Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute . 19 . 201-212.
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.