Spelungula Explained

Spelungula is a monotypic genus of South Pacific large-clawed spiders containing the single species, Spelungula cavernicola, or the Nelson cave spider.[1]

Taxonomy

This species was described in 1987 by Ray Forster from specimens collected in caves around Nelson.[2] The holotype is stored at Te Papa Museum under registration number AS.000014.[3]

Etymology

The genus name is derived from "spelunca", which is latin for cave and is feminine in gender. The species name "cavernicola" refers to the species restriction to caves.

Description

It is New Zealand's largest known spider, with a legspan of 13to and a body length of 2.4cm (00.9inches), and its main prey is cave weta.[4] [5]

Distribution/habitat

This species is a only known from caves in northwestern Nelson, New Zealand.

Conservation status

It is one of the few spider species afforded legal protection under the New Zealand Wildlife Act.[6] [7] It is classed as "Range Restricted" and stable in the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[8]

In May 2022, the Crazy Paving Cave in Kahurangi National Park, where the spiders are known to breed, was closed for a year in an attempt to help the population to recover.[9]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NMBE - World Spider Catalog . 2024-07-30 . wsc.nmbe.ch.
  2. Forster . R. R. . Platnick . N. I. . Gray . M. R. . 1987 . A review of the spider superfamilies Hypochiloidea and Austrochiloidea (Araneae, Araneomorphae). . Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History . 185 . 1–116.
  3. Web site: Collections Online - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa . 2024-07-30 . collections.tepapa.govt.nz.
  4. Web site: Nelson cave spider. McLachlan. Andrew. www.teara.govt.nz. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. en. 2016-05-29.
  5. Web site: Topic: Nelson cave spider Collections Online – Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. collections.tepapa.govt.nz. 2016-05-28.
  6. Faulls. D.. 1991. Eight legs, two fangs and an attitude. New Zealand Geographic. 10. 68–96.
  7. http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1953/0031/latest/DLM278595.html#DLM278595 Wildlife Act
  8. Web site: Molloy . Janice. etal. Classifying species according to threat of extinction. A system for New Zealand. Department of Conservation (New Zealand). 2002. 2008-02-29 .
  9. News: 1 June 2022 . Nelson cave to shut for a year to improve rare spider's population . RNZ . 1 June 2022.

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