Cryptaranea albolineata

Cryptaranea albolineata
Conservation status
Not Threatened (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Araneidae
Genus:	Cryptaranea
Species:	C. albolineata
Binomial name
Cryptaranea albolineata (Urquhart, 1893)
Synonyms
Epeira albo-lineata

Cryptaranea albolineata is a species of orb-weaver spider that is endemic to New Zealand. ^[1]

Taxonomy

This species was described as Epeira albo-lineata in 1893 by Arthur Urquhart from a female specimen collected in Ohaupo. ^[2] It was most recently revised in 1988, in which it was transferred to the Cryptaranea genus. ^[1]

Description

The female is recorded at 5.8mm in length whereas the male is 4.7mm. The colouration is variable, ranging from pale yellow brown to almost black. The abdomen often has a pale band anteriorly. ^[1]

Distribution

This species is endemic and widespread throughout New Zealand, including the Three Kings Islands and the Chatham Islands. ^[1]

Conservation status

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as "Not Threatened". ^[3]

References

1. Court, D. J. & Forster, R. R. (1988). The spiders of New Zealand: Part VI. Family Araneidae. Otago Museum Bulletin6: 68-124.
2. Urquhart, A.T. (1893). "Descriptions of new species of Araneidae". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 25: 165–190.
3. 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" (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 34: 1–37.