Michael G. Rix Explained

Michael G. Rix
Nationality:Australian
Workplaces:Queensland Museum
Alma Mater:University of Western Australia
Thesis Title:Taxonomy and systematics of the Australian Micropholcommatidae (Arachnida: Araneae)
Thesis Url:https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/publications/taxonomy-and-systematics-of-the-australian-micropholcommatidae-ar
Field:biology, zoology, arachnology
Thesis Year:2009
Author Abbrev Zoo:Rix

Michael Gordon Rix is an Australian arachnologist, whose publications mainly concern spiders.

, he was Principal Curator of Arachnology and Research Fellow in the Biodiversity and Geosciences Program at the Queensland Museum.[1] He has held numerous professional appointments including President of the Society of Australian Systematic Biologists and Associate Editor of the Journal of Arachnology. He is widely published and cited.[2] The World Spider Catalog lists 166 species names and 22 genus names authored or co-authored by Rix, . Pseudoanyphaena michaelrixi, discovered in 2003, was named after him.[3]

His interest in spiders developed as a boy.[4] He has interest in Australian trapdoor spiders and his research into their decline over the past decade.[5] [6]

In early 2020 Rix expressed concern over the likely extinction of the assassin spider — Zephyrarchaea austini — also called the pelican spider, which is only known to occur in the Western River Wilderness Protection Area on Kangaroo Island, as a result of the catastrophic 2020 bush fires.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dr Michael Rix. www.qm.qld.gov.au. 2020-02-14.
  2. Web site: Michael Rix - Google Scholar Citations. scholar.google.com. 2020-02-14.
  3. News: Desmond. Rosemary. Species closes Gondwana gap. 15 March 2003. The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Qld.. 8.
  4. News: Pierre. Nicole. SPINNING WEB OF INTRIGUE. 20 October 2019. The Courier-Mail. Brisbane, Qld.. 28.
  5. News: Trapdoor spiders disappearing from Australian landscape. ScienceDaily. en. 2020-02-14.
  6. Web site: Rare WA 'armoured' spiders under threat from habitat destruction. Collard. Sarah. 2018-05-16. ABC News. en-AU. 2020-02-14.
  7. Web site: Ancient 'assassin' may have been wiped out by Kangaroo Island fires. Kilvert. Nick. 2020-01-18. ABC News. en-AU. 2020-02-14.