Hexathele para

Hexathele para
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. para
Binomial name
Hexathele para Forster, 1968

Hexathele para is a species of mygalomorph spider endemic to New Zealand. ^[1]

Taxonomy

This species was described in 1968 by Ray Forster from female and male specimens collected in Taranaki. The holotype is stored in Otago Museum. ^[1]

Description

The female is recorded at 18.8mm in length. The carapace and legs are dark brown. The abdomen is pale yellow dorsally with 4-5 chevron patterns. The male is identical except in the male leg modifications of typical of Hexathele. ^[1]

Distribution

This species is only known from Taranaki, New Zealand. ^[1]

Conservation status

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as Data Deficient with the qualifiers of "Data Poor: Size" and "Data Poor: Trend". ^[2]

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. 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.