Meringa australis explained

Meringa australis is a species of Physoglenidae spider endemic to New Zealand.^[1]

Taxonomy

This species was described in 1990 by Ray Forster from male and female specimens. The holotype is stored in Te Papa Museum.

Description

The male is recorded at 4.02mm in length whereas the female is 2.56mm. The carapace is pale brown. The abdomen has pale markings dorsally.

Distribution

This species is only known from Big South Cape Island, New Zealand.

Conservation status

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as "Naturally Uncommon" with the qualifier of "Island Endemic" and "One Location".^[2]

Notes and References

1. Forster, R. R., Platnick, N. I. & Coddington, J. (1990). A proposal and review of the spider family Synotaxidae (Araneae, Araneoidea), with notes on theridiid interrelationships. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 193: 1-116
2. 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.