| Anoteropsis hilaris | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Lycosidae |
| Genus: | Anoteropsis |
| Species: | A. hilaris |
| Binomial name | |
| Anoteropsis hilaris (Koch, 1877) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Anoteropsis hilaris, commonly referred as the garden wolf spider or the grey wolf spider, is a species of wolf spider that is endemic to New Zealand. [1]
Anoteropsis hilaris was first described three times in 1877 by Ludwig Koch in the same paper as Lycosa hilaris, Lycosa umbrata and Pardosa vicaria. [2] In the same year, Peter D. Goyen described Lycosa virgata and Lycosa taylori. [3] In 1899, Eugene Simon described Lycosa tremula. [4] In 1951, Carl Roewer renamed L. virgata as Lycosa virgatella. In 1955, Roewer would transfer L virgatella and L. taylori to the Pardosa genus, L. tremula to the Arctosa genus and transfer L. umbrata to the Avicosa genus. [5] In 1960, Roewer would transfer A. tremula to the Arctosella genus. In 1964, Ray Forster described Lycosa subantarctica. [6] In 2002, Cor Vink placed Lycosa hilaris in the Anoteropsis genus and recognized all aforementioned names as synonyms of A. hilaris. [1]
Anoteropsis hilaris is small with a body length of 4.9-11mm (male) or 4.9-11.8mm (female). The main body has a pale yellow stripe on the dorsal side running from the front of the head to about two thirds down the abdomen. The abdomen and cephalothorax vary in colouration, but are typically brown with darker colours near the medial stripe. The legs are also variable but are typically yellow-brown, but may also have green segments. [1]
The eggsacs have a pinkish tinge when first laid. [1]
Anoteropsis hilaris can be distinguished from other species of Anoteropsis by the morphology of its reproductive system. [1]
Anoteropsis hilaris is widespread throughout both main islands of New Zealand and on some of New Zealand's smaller islands such as Stewart Island, Three Kings Islands, Snares Island and Auckland Islands. The spider occurs in grassland scrub habitats everywhere except in alpine zones. [1] A. hilaris is one of the most abundant predatory arthropods in New Zealand's agricultural ecosystems. [7]
Adults appear to have seasonal abundance, being most abundant from December to January (but can be found all year round). Egg sacs have been recorded from September to March, which are carried by the female. [1] [8] The female carries the spiderlings, which have been recorded from December to March. [1]
Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, named for their robust and agile hunting skills and excellent eyesight. They live mostly in solitude, hunt alone, and usually do not spin webs. Some are opportunistic hunters, pouncing upon prey as they find it or chasing it over short distances; others wait for passing prey in or near the mouth of a burrow. Wolf spiders resemble nursery web spiders, but wolf spiders carry their egg sacs by attaching them to their spinnerets, while the Pisauridae carry their egg sacs with their chelicerae and pedipalps. Two of the wolf spider's eight eyes are large and prominent; this distinguishes them from nursery web spiders, whose eyes are all of roughly equal size. This can also help distinguish them from the similar-looking grass spiders.
Dolomedes is a genus of large spiders of the family Pisauridae. They are also known as fishing spiders, raft spiders, dock spiders or wharf spiders. Almost all Dolomedes species are semiaquatic, with the exception of the tree-dwelling D. albineus of the southeastern United States. Many species have a striking pale stripe down each side of the body.
Pardosa is a large genus of wolf spiders, commonly known as the thin-legged wolf spiders. It was first described by C. L. Koch, in 1847, with more than 500 described species that are found in all regions of the world.
The Artoriinae are a subfamily of wolf spiders. The monophyly of the subfamily has been confirmed in a molecular phylogenetic study, although the relationships among the subfamilies was shown to be less certain.
Anoteropsis is a genus of wolf spiders. All the species except one are found in New Zealand and its islands.
Hanea is a monotypic genus of Cyatholipidae containing the single species, Hanea paturau.
Novakiella is a genus of South Pacific orb-weaver spiders containing the single species, Novakiella trituberculosa that has only been found in Australia and New Zealand.
Dugdalea is a monotypic genus of Polynesian araneomorph spiders in the family Orsolobidae containing the single species, Dugdalea oculata. It was first described by Raymond Robert Forster & Norman I. Platnick in 1985, and is only found in New Zealand.
Turretia is a monotypic genus of Orsolobidae containing the single species, Turretia dugdalei.
Schizocosa mccooki is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. They can be found from the west coast to western Lake Erie in western North America, including Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
Hogna pseudoceratiola is a species of wolf spider in the genus Hogna of the family Lycosidae. It was described for the first time by H. K. Wallace in 1942.
Anoteropsis forsteri is a species of wolf spider that is endemic to New Zealand.
Anoteropsis cantuaria is a species of wolf spider that is endemic to the Canterbury Plains of New Zealand.
Arachnura feredayi, the tailed forest spider, scorpion spider or drag-tailed spider, is endemic to New Zealand. It is known for the distinctive tapering body shape in females, which are also much larger than males, and for producing vertical columns of egg sacs in their webs.
Halocosa is a genus of wolf spiders first described by G. N. Azarkina and L. A. Trilikauskas in 2019. As of December 2021 it contains only three species: H. cereipes, H. hatanensis, and H. jartica. The type species, Halocosa cereipes, was originally described under the name "Lycosa cereipes".
Pardosa astrigera is a species of wolf spider in the family Lycosidae. They are found throughout Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, and far east Russia.
Migas sandageri is a species of Mygalomorph spider endemic to New Zealand.
Ascuta insula is a species of Orsolobidae spider of the genus Ascuta. The species is endemic to New Zealand.