Wiltonia graminicola explained

Wiltonia graminicola is a species of Orsolobidae that is endemic to New Zealand.^[1]

Taxonomy

This species was described in 1985 by Ray Forster and Norman Platnick from male and female specimens collected in Dunedin. It is the type species of Wiltonia. The holotype is stored in Otago Museum.

Description

The male is recorded at 2.64mm in length whereas the female is 2.36mm. The carapace and abdomen are patterned dorsally.

Distribution

This species is only known from Otago, New Zealand. It is apparently restricted to tussock grasslands.

Conservation status

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as "Naturally Uncommon" with the qualifier "Range Restricted".^[2]

Notes and References

1. Forster . R.R . Platnick . N.L . 1985 . A review of the austral spider family Orsolobidae (Arachnida, Araneae), with notes on the superfamily Dysderoidea . Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History . 181 . 1-230.
2. 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.