Hadronyche

Last updated

Hadronyche
Victorian funnelweb02.jpg
Hadronyche modesta
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Atracidae
Genus: Hadronyche
L. Koch, 1873 [1]
Type species
H. cerberea
L. Koch, 1873
Species

32, see text

Synonyms [1]
  • AnepsiadaRainbow & Pulleine, 1918 [2]
  • PseudatraxRainbow, 1914 [2]
  • StyphlopisRainbow, 1913 [2]

Hadronyche is a genus of venomous Australian funnel-web spiders that was first described by L. Koch in 1873. [3] Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980, [4] then to the Atracidae in 2018. [5]

Contents

Description

Their size varies significantly, measuring from 1 to 5 cm. Most species in this genus, as most Mygalomorphae, have a glossy black or brown carapace. They have a very long life span for spiders, having been known to live for up to 20 years. [ citation needed ]

They can be easily identified by the raised morphology of their caput (the front part of the cephalothorax). If identification is not certain, they can be distinguished from Atrax by the unmodified or blunt apophysis in their second tibia, or from Illawarra by the male tarsi, which have two instead of three ventral spine rows. [6]

Venom

While Australian funnel-web spider venom is medically significant, no human fatalities as a result have been recorded since the introduction of antivenom in 1980. [7] The venom profile of this genus is also different from the other genera from the Atracidae family. [6]

Distribution

They are found in eastern Australia from north-east Queensland to Tasmania and the Gulf Ranges region of South Australia. [6] They live primarily in the moist regions and highlands of the east coast, though they are also found in drier open forests in the Western Slopes of the Great Dividing Range and South Australia's gulf ranges. [8]

Burrows

Hadronyche spiders usually make their burrows under rocks or logs, usually in cool humid areas. As with most funnel web spiders, these spiders make funnel shaped webs. The webs have silk trip lines radiating from the entrance which function as a warning system, alerting the spiders to the presence of insect prey or a possible mate. In the case of seasonal rains, the burrows can flood. While these spiders are able to survive submerged for several hours by trapping air bubbles with their hair covered legs beneath their abdomens, prolonged flooding can force them to leave their burrows. They may also leave their burrow to find a mate. [8]

Species

As of March 2022, it contains 32 species, all from Australia: [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian funnel-web spider</span> Family of mygalomorph spiders

Atracidae is a family of mygalomorph spiders, commonly known as Australian funnel-web spiders or atracids. It has been included as a subfamily of the Hexathelidae, but is now recognised as a separate family. All members of the family are native to Australia. Atracidae consists of three genera: Atrax, Hadronyche, and Illawarra, comprising 35 species. Some members of the family produce venom that is dangerous to humans, and bites by spiders of six of the species have caused severe injuries to victims. The bites of the Sydney funnel-web spider and northern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider are potentially deadly, but no fatalities have occurred since the introduction of modern first-aid techniques and antivenom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hexathelidae</span> Family of spiders

Hexathelidae is a family of mygalomorph spiders. It is one of a number of families and genera of spiders known as funnel-web spiders. In 2018, the family was substantially reduced in size by genera being moved to three separate families: Atracidae, Macrothelidae and Porrhothelidae. Atracidae includes the most venomous species formerly placed in Hexathelidae.

<i>Hadronyche formidabilis</i> Species of spider

Hadronyche formidabilis, the northern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider, is a medically significant mygalomorph spider found in Queensland and New South Wales. It is also known as the Northern Rivers funnel-web spider or northern funnel-web spider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney funnel-web spider</span> Large Australian venomous spider

The Sydney funnel-web spider is a species of venomous mygalomorph spider native to eastern Australia, usually found within a 100 km (62 mi) radius of Sydney. It is a member of a group of spiders known as Australian funnel-web spiders. Its bite is capable of causing serious illness or death in humans if left untreated.

<i>Atrax</i> Genus of spiders

Atrax is a genus of venomous Australian funnel web spiders that was first described by O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1877 from the type species Atrax robustus. As of May 2019 it contains only three species: A. robustus, A. sutherlandi, and A. yorkmainorum. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980, then to the Australian funnel-web spiders in 2018.

<i>Stanwellia</i> Genus of spiders

Stanwellia is a genus of South Pacific mygalomorph spiders in the family Pycnothelidae. It was first described by W. J. Rainbow & R. H. Pulleine in 1918. Originally placed with the curtain-web spiders, it was transferred to the funnel-web trapdoor spiders in 1985, then to the Pycnothelidae in 2020. It is a senior synonym of Aparua.

<i>Hadronyche infensa</i> Species of spider

Hadronyche infensa, the Darling Downs funnel-web spider, is a venomous mygalomorph spider, one of a number of Australian funnel-web spiders found in Queensland and New South Wales.

<i>Hadronyche cerberea</i> Species of spider

Hadronyche cerberea, the southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider, is a venomous mygalomorph spider found in central New South Wales, Australia.

<i>Hadronyche versuta</i> Species of spider

Hadronyche versuta, the Blue Mountains funnel-web spider, is a venomous mygalomorph spider found in central New South Wales.

Hadronyche venenata, also known as the Tasmanian funnel-web spider, is a species of funnel-web spider in the Atracidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 1927 by Australian arachnologist Vernon Victor Hickman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avicularioidea</span> Clade of spiders

Avicularioidea is a clade of mygalomorph spiders, one of the two main clades into which mygalomorphs are divided. It has been treated at the rank of superfamily.

Hadronyche annachristiae is a species of funnel-web spider in the Atracidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 2010 by Australian arachnologist Michael Roland Gray. The species epithet annachristiae honours the author’s daughter, Anna-Christie Gray.

Hadronyche alpina, also known as the Alpine funnel-web spider or Kosciusko funnel-web spider, is a species of funnel-web spider in the Atracidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 2010 by Australian arachnologist Michael Roland Gray. The specific epithet alpina refers to the alpine habitats in the Snowy Mountains region where the spiders are found.

Hadronyche jensenae is a species of funnel-web spider in the Atracidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 2010 by Australian arachnologist Michael Roland Gray. The species epithet honours the author's wife, Greta Jensen Gray.

Hadronyche lynabrae is a species of funnel-web spider in the Atracidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 2010 by Australian arachnologist Michael Roland Gray. The species epithet lynabrae honours Lyn Abra of the Australian Reptile Park, who provided spider specimens to the Australian Museum.

Hadronyche mascordi is a species of funnel-web spider in the Atracidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 2010 by Australian arachnologist Michael Roland Gray. The species epithet mascordi honours Ramon Mascord, an author, photographer and student of spiders.

Hadronyche monaro is a species of funnel-web spider in the Atracidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 2010 by Australian arachnologist Michael Roland Gray. The species epithet monaro refers to the Monaro region of south-eastern New South Wales.

Hadronyche walkeri is a species of funnel-web spider in the Atracidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 2010 by Australian arachnologist Michael Roland Gray. The species epithet walkeri honours Pat Walker, naturalist and photographer from North Queensland.

Hadronyche lamingtonensis, also known as the Lamington funnel-web spider, is a species of funnel-web spider in the Atracidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 2010 by Australian arachnologist Michael Roland Gray. The species epithet lamingtonensis refers to the Lamington National Park, the type locality.

Hadronyche raveni is a species of funnel-web spider in the Atracidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 2010 by Australian arachnologist Michael Roland Gray. The species epithet raveni honours Dr Robert Raven, Senior Curator of Arachnology at the Queensland Museum.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Gen. Hadronyche L. Koch, 1873". World Spider Catalog Version 20.0. Natural History Museum Bern. 2019. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 2019-06-10.
  2. 1 2 3 Gray, M. R. (1988). "Aspects of the systematics of the Australian funnel web spiders (Araneae: Hexathelidae: Atracinae) based upon morphological and electrophoretic data". Australian Entomological Society Miscellaneous Publication. 5: 117.
  3. Koch, L. (1873). Die Arachniden Australiens.
  4. Raven, R. J. (1980). "The evolution and biogeography of the mygalomorph spider family Hexathelidae (Araneae, Chelicerata)". Journal of Arachnology. 8: 255.
  5. Hedin, M.; et al. (2018). "Phylogenomic reclassification of the world's most venomous spiders (Mygalomorphae, Atracinae), with implications for venom evolution". Scientific Reports. 8 (1636): 4. Bibcode:2018NatSR...8.1636H. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-19946-2. PMC   5785998 . PMID   29374214.
  6. 1 2 3 Gray, Michael R. (2010). "A Revision of the Australian Funnel-web Spiders (Hexathelidae: Atracinae)" (PDF). Australian Museum. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  7. "Australian Venom Research Unit - Funnel web spiders". University of Melbourne. Retrieved 2019-06-09.
  8. 1 2 "Funnel-web Spiders". The Australian Museum. Retrieved 2022-11-14.