Plectophanes altus explained

Plectophanes altus is a species of Cycloctenidae spider endemic to New Zealand.^[1]

Taxonomy

This species was described in 1964 by Ray Forster from female specimens.^[2] It was most recently revised in 1979. The holotype is stored in Otago Museum.

Description

The female is recorded at 4.7mm in length. This species has a dark brown carapace. The abdomen is coloured dark brown with pale markings dorsally.

Distribution

This species is only known from Fiordland, New Zealand.

Conservation status

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as "Not Threatened" with the qualifiers of "Data Poor: Size" and "Data Poor: Trend".^[3]

Notes and References

1. Forster, R. R. (1979). The spiders of New Zealand. Part V. Cycloctenidae, Gnaphosidae, Clubionidae. Otago Museum Bulletin 5: 1-95
2. Forster, R. R. (1964). The spider family Toxopidae (Araneae). Annals of the Natal Museum 16: 113-151
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.