Colaranea melanoviridis

Last updated

Colaranea melanoviridis
Colaranea melanoviridis-Green forest orbweb spider (NZAC06001608).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Araneidae
Genus: Colaranea
Species:
C. melanoviridis
Binomial name
Colaranea melanoviridis
Court & Forster, 1988

Colaranea melanoviridis is a species of orb-weaver spider that is endemic to New Zealand. [1]

Contents

Taxonomy

Colaranea melanoviridis was described in 1988 by David J. Court and Raymond Robert Forster. [1]

Description

Colaranea melanoviridis is a small, green orb-weaver with a notable black stripe down its abdomen. [2] Excluding the legs, the female measures about 8.8mm in length whereas the male measures 6.1mm in length. [1]

Colaranea melanoviridis most closely resembles Colaranea viriditas , but can be distinguished by the presence of the black band down its abdomen, more numerous leg spines in the first two pairs of legs of the female and by reduced number of spines on the prolateral surface of the first tibia in the male. [1]

Habitat and distribution

Colaranea melanoviridis appears to be restricted to forest habitats and are nocturnal. [2] The species seems to be distributed throughout the North Island, but there are also records of it occurring on the South Island in Nelson. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orb-weaver spider</span> Family of spiders

Orb-weaver spiders are members of the spider family Araneidae. They are the most common group of builders of spiral wheel-shaped webs often found in gardens, fields, and forests. The English word "orb" can mean "circular", hence the English name of the group. Araneids have eight similar eyes, hairy or spiny legs, and no stridulating organs.

<i>Araneus diadematus</i> Species of spider

The spider species Araneus diadematus is commonly called the European garden spider, cross orbweaver, diadem spider, orangie, cross spider, and crowned orb weaver. It is sometimes called the pumpkin spider, although this name is also used for a different species, Araneus marmoreus. It is an orb-weaver spider found in Europe, where it is native, and North America, where it was introduced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian garden orb weaver spider</span> Species of spider

The Australian garden orb weaver spider is a very common species of spider with many variants in size, shape, and colour across the coastal and northern regions of Australia. They have very large abdomens when well-fed and exhibit a tremendous colour-range from off-white through tan, brown to almost black. They have a roughly leaf-shaped pattern on the top of their abdomen with a complex outline that is darker than the surrounding area. There may also be several whitish spots or one or more stripes. The spiders' cephalothoraxes (heads) and proximal leg segments are usually darker, mostly reddish or reddish brown. They are able to change their colour with each moult to better match the background upon which they rest during the day.

<i>Austracantha</i> Genus of spiders

Austracantha is a genus of spider with a single species, Austracantha minax, commonly known as the jewel spider or the Christmas spider. It is a member of the family Araneidae and is endemic to Australia. They are relatively small spiders, reaching a maximum total body length of only around 12 mm (0.47 in) for females, and 5 mm (0.20 in) for males. Their abdomen has six distinctive projections ("spines") that makes them easy to identify. They are predominantly a shiny black, with variable white, yellow, and orange patterns. Melanistic forms also occur during autumn. They are facultatively gregarious, and can be found in large aggregations of overlapping orb webs. They feed on small flying insects that get entangled in their webs. They are harmless to humans, though the webs can be a nuisance for bushwalkers. They are most abundant during the summer months.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spined micrathena</span> Species of spider

Micrathena gracilis is a spider in the family Araneidae (orb-weavers), commonly known as the spined micrathena or castleback orbweaver. This spider spins a moderately large and very tightly coiled web. The spiders themselves are small and can be found to be anywhere from 4.2 mm to 10.8 mm long. Its venom is harmless to humans. M. gracilis is unique in appearance due to its large spiky abdomen and black and white bodies. Certain spiders of this species can also display a yellow color on the sides of their bodies. These spiders can be seen most active during the end of the summer and beginning of fall. M. gracilis is diurnal and are rarely ever seen active at night.

<i>Larinioides cornutus</i> Species of spider

Larinioides cornutus, the furrow spider, furrow orb spider, or foliate spider is an orb-weaver spider with Holarctic distribution.

<i>Gasteracantha cancriformis</i> Species of spider

Gasteracantha cancriformis is a species of orb-weaver spider. It is widely distributed in the New World.

<i>Porrhothele antipodiana</i> Black tunnelweb spider from New Zealand

Porrhothele antipodiana, the black tunnelweb spider, is a spider found throughout much of New Zealand and the Chatham Islands in bush and gardens and is one of New Zealand's most researched spiders. It is related to tarantulas, and is a harmless relative of the venomous Australian funnel-web spider.

<i>Argiope pulchella</i> Species of arachnid

Argiope pulchella is a species of the orb-weaver spider family, Araneidae. It ranges from India to China and can be found on Java. It is a synanthropic species, often living in habitats associated with humans.

<i>Poecilopachys australasia</i> Species of spider

Poecilopachys australasia, commonly known as the two-spined spider, is an Australian orb-weaving spider which has also been recorded in New Zealand since the early 1970s. The spider is nocturnal, spinning a cart-wheel-shaped web at night which it consumes in the morning. Females can be commonly found on the undersides of citrus tree leaves during the day.

<i>Cyrtophora parangexanthematica</i> Species of spider

Cyrtophora parangexanthematica is a species of tent spider found in the Philippines. Its scientific name comes from its close resemblance to double-tailed tent spiders. It was described from a single female specimen collected in 1995.

<i>Araneus mitificus</i> Species of spider

Araneus mitificus, commonly known as the kidney garden spider or pale orb weaver is a species of orb-weaver spider found in South, East, and Southeast Asia.

<i>Hexathele</i> Genus of spiders

Hexathele is a genus of funnel-web spiders endemic to New Zealand that was first described by Anton Ausserer in 1871, though most others have been described by Raymond Robert Forster. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980.

<i>Verrucosa arenata</i> Species of spider

Verrucosa arenata, also known as the triangle orb weaver, arrowhead spider, and arrowhead orbweaver, is a species of orb-weaver spider found across North America. It is one of the few known large orb-weaver spiders that sits facing upwards in its web. Unlike most orb-weavers, which have bulbous abdomens, V. arenata has an abdomen that is pointy and triangular, shaped like the tip of an arrow. In females, the abdomen is colored white or yellow. Additionally, V. arenata uses reeling behavior in order to capture its prey, as its webs are stronger than that of most other orb weavers. The genus name Verrucosa means "warty" in Latin, referring to the small wartlike bumps on the spider's abdomen, while the specific epithet arenata derives from Latin arena, meaning "sand".

<i>Colaranea</i> Genus of spiders

Colaranea is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by D. J. Court & Raymond Robert Forster in 1988 that are endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Macracantha</i> Genus of Asian orb-weaver spiders

Macracantha is a genus of Asian orb-weaver spiders recognized as containing the species, Macracantha arcuata., although some schemes also recognise inclusion of Gasteracantha hasselti in this genus. Macracantha is notable for the extremely long, curved spines on the abdomens of female members of the genus; Eugène Simon created the taxon name from the Greek words μακρός and ἄκανθα (spine). It occurs from India and China through Southeast Asia to Indonesia.

<i>Colaranea brunnea</i> Species of spider

Colaranea melanoviridis is a species of orb-weaver spider that is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Araniella opisthographa</i> Species of spider

Araniella opisthographa is a species of orb weaver in the spider family Araneidae.

Cladomelea akermani is a species of spider in the orb-weaver spider family Araneidae, found in South Africa. Cladomelea species, including C. akermani, are "bolas spiders" – adult females capture their prey by using a sticky drop on the end of a single line which they swing, usually catching male moths attracted by the release of an analogue of the attractant sex pheromone produced by the female moth. Juvenile and adult male bolas spiders do not use a bolas, catching prey with their legs alone.

<i>Ordgarius sexspinosus</i> Species of spider

Ordgarius sexspinosus is a species of spider in the orb-weaver spider family Araneidae, found from India to Japan and Indonesia. O. sexspinosus is a bolas spider. Rather than using a web, adult females catch their prey by using a line with one or two sticky drops which they swing.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Court, D. J. & Forster, R. R. (1988). The spiders of New Zealand: Part VI. Family Araneidae. Otago Museum Bulletin6: 68-124.
  2. 1 2 "Orbweb spider (Green forest) Colaranea melanoviridis".