Spelungula

Spelungula
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Gradungulidae
Genus: Spelungula
Forster, 1987[1]
Species: S. cavernicola
Binomial name
Spelungula cavernicola
Forster, 1987[1]

Spelungula is a genus of spiders in the family Gradungulidae. The genus has only one species, Spelungula cavernicola,[1] or the Nelson cave spider, which is endemic to New Zealand. It has a 2.4 centimetres (0.94 in) body length and a leg span of up to 13 centimetres (5.1 in).

As of 1991, it is the only spider protected under the Wildlife Act.[2][3] It is classed as "Range Restricted" and stable in the New Zealand Threat Classification System.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Gen. Spelungula Forster, 1987", World Spider Catalog (Natural History Museum Bern), retrieved 2016-04-08
  2. Faulls, D. (1991). "Eight legs, two fangs and an attitude". New Zealand Geographic (10): 68–96.
  3. Wildlife Act - Schedule 7 Terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates declared to be animals
  4. Molloy, Janice; Bell, B.; Clout, M.; de, Lange P.; Gibbs, G.; Given, D.; Norton, D.; Smith, N.; Stephens, T. (2002). "Classifying species according to threat of extinction. A system for New Zealand" (PDF). Department of Conservation (New Zealand). Retrieved 2008-02-29.

External links

Wikispecies has information related to: Spelungula cavernicola
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