Taphiassa punctata explained

Taphiassa punctata is a species of Anapidae that is endemic to New Zealand.^[1]

Taxonomy

This species was described as Parapua punctata in 1959 by Ray Forster from male and female specimens collected in Canterbury.^[2] In 2010 it was transferred to Taphiassa. The holotype is stored in Canterbury Museum.

Description

The male is recorded at 1.18mm in length whereas the female is 1.26mm. This species has a reddish brown carapace. The abdomen is deep reddish brown and blackish grey. The legs are yellow brown.

Distribution

This species is known from the North Island and South Island of New Zealand.

Conservation status

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as "Not Threatened".^[3]

Notes and References

1. Rix . Michael . Harvey . Mark . 2010-02-22 . The spider family Micropholcommatidae (Arachnida: Araneae: Araneoidea): a relimitation and revision at the generic level . ZooKeys . 36 . 1–321 . 10.3897/zookeys.36.306 . free . 2010ZooK...36....1R . 1313-2970. 2440/86515 . free .
2. Forster . R.R. . 1959 . The spiders of the family Symphytognathidae . Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand . 86 . 3/4 . 269–329.
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.