Nephilengys borbonica
| Nephilengys borbonica | |
|---|---|
 | |
| female N. borbonica from La Réunion | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Suborder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Nephilidae |
| Genus: | Nephilengys |
| Species: | N. borbonica |
| Binomial name | |
| Nephilengys borbonica (Vinson, 1863) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Epeira borbonica | |
Nephilengys borbonica is a nephilid spider from Réunion. It was once thought to also inhabit Madagascar and other nearby islands, however these were determined in 2011 to be a different species, Nephilengys livida, while specimens from Mauritius were placed in the new species Nephilengys dodo.[1]
Anatomy
Female
The color of the abdomen ranges from striking bright red to whitish-red, with larger specimens displaying a brighter red. Total length ranges from about 14 to 22mm.[1]
Male
Males' total length ranges from about 4 to 6 mm. They have a yellow-brown prosoma, and a gray abdomen with white pigment dots. [1]
Distribution
N. borbonica occurs in Réunion, and were observed in cloud forests at up to 1,500 m elevation .[2]
Name
The species name borbonica refers to the island Réunion near Madagascar, which was called "Bourbon" until 1848.
References
- 1 2 3 Kuntner & Agnarsson 2011: Biogeography and diversification of hermit spiders on Indian Ocean islands (Nephilidae: Nephilengys). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 59:477-488.
- ↑ Matjaž Kuntner (2007). "A monograph of Nephilengys, the pantropical 'hermit spiders' (Araneae, Nephilidae, Nephilinae)". Systematic Entomology 32 (1): 95–135. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3113.2006.00348.x.
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