Hexathele cavernicola

Hexathele cavernicola
Conservation status
Data Deficient (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Mygalomorphae
Family:	Hexathelidae
Genus:	Hexathele
Species:	H. cavernicola
Binomial name
Hexathele cavernicola Forster, 1968

Hexathele cavernicola is a species of trapdoor spider endemic to New Zealand. ^[1]

Taxonomy

This species was described in 1968 by Ray Forster from female specimens collected in Waitomo. ^[1] The holotype is stored in the New Zealand Arthropod Collection under registration number NZAC03014965. ^[2]

Description

This female is recorded at 19.3mm in length. The carapace and legs are bright reddish brown. The abdomen is black with a pale area on the dorsal and anterior region. ^[1]

Distribution and habitat

This species is only known from Waitomo, New Zealand. Presently, it is only known to occur in caves. ^[1]

Conservation status

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as Data Deficient with the qualifiers of "Data Poor: Size", "Data Poor: Trend" and "One Location". ^[3]

References

1. Forster, Raymond Robert; Wilton, Cecil Louis (1968-01-01). "The Spiders of New Zealand Part II: Ctenizidae, Dipluridae & Migidae" (PDF). Otago Museum bulletin. 2: 1–166.
2. "Specimen Details". scd.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-07-20.
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.