Porrhothele blanda explained

Porrhothele blanda is a species of Mygalomorphae spider endemic to New Zealand.^[1]

Taxonomy

This species was described in 1968 by Ray Forster from male and female specimens in the northern South Island. The holotype is stored at Canterbury Museum.

Description

This species has a stocky appearance. Females are known to grow up to 18mm in body length. The carapace and legs are brown. The abdomen is purple with chevron patterns dorsally. Males are smaller, being recorded at 13.5mm in length. The males also have a darker first pair of legs and modifications typical of male Porrhothele.

Distribution

This species is only known from Nelson and Marlborough Sounds of New Zealand.

Conservation status

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as Not Threatened.^[2]

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. Web site: NZTCS . 2024-07-14 . nztcs.org.nz.