| Irileka | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Sparassidae |
| Genus: | Irileka Hirst, 1998 [1] |
| Species: | I. iridescens |
| Binomial name | |
| Irileka iridescens Hirst, 1998 | |
Irileka is a monotypic genus of Western Australian huntsman spiders containing the single species, Irileka iridescens. It was first described by D. B. Hirst in 1998, [2] and is found in Western Australia. [1]
Huntsman spiders, members of the family Sparassidae, are known by this name because of their speed and mode of hunting. They are also called giant crab spiders because of their size and appearance. Larger species sometimes are referred to as wood spiders, because of their preference for woody places. In southern Africa the genus Palystes are known as rain spiders or lizard-eating spiders. Commonly, they are confused with baboon spiders from the Mygalomorphae infraorder, which are not closely related.
Maratus is a spider genus of the family Salticidae. These spiders are commonly referred to as peacock spiders due to the males' colorful and usually iridescent patterns on the upper surface of the abdomen often enhanced with lateral flaps or bristles, which they display during courtship. Females lack these bright colors, being cryptic in appearance. In at least one species, Maratus vespertilio, the expansion of the flaps also occurs during ritualised contests between males. The male display and courtship dance are complex, involving visual and vibratory signals.
Delena is a genus of South Pacific huntsman spiders that was first described by Charles Athanase Walckenaer in 1837.
Annandaliella is a genus of tarantulas that was first described by A. S. Hirst in 1909. As of December 2019 it contains three species endemic to India: A. ernakulamensis, A. pectinifera, and A. travancorica. They are selenogyrid tarantulas, meaning they have a stridulating organ on the inner side of the chelicerae.
Holconia is a genus of Southern Pacific huntsman spiders that was first described by Tamerlan Dahls Thorell in 1877. It was branched from Isopeda in 1990.
David B. Hirst is an arachnologist previously based at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide. He left the Museum on 22 February 2011. He has described more than 40 species and genera in the huntsman spider family, Sparassidae, and was regularly called on by New Zealand authorities to identify huntsman spiders that entered their country.
Isopeda is a genus of huntsman spiders that was first described by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch in 1875.
Arthur Stanley Hirst also known as Stanley Hirst, was an English arachnologist and myriapodologist on the staff of the British Museum, and was an authority on Arachnida, especially Acari Myriapoda.
Pinkfloydia is a genus of small Australian long-jawed orb-weavers, reaching a maximum lengths of about 4.5 millimetres (0.18 in). It was first described by D. Dimitrov & G. Hormiga in 2011, and contains two species, found in New South Wales and Western Australia: P. harveyi and P. rixi. They have a unique rounded, cone-shaped head structure with one pair of large eyes and three pairs of smaller eyes. The genus is named after British rock band Pink Floyd.
Tamopsis is a genus of tree trunk spiders that was first described by B. Baehr & M. Baehr in 1987. Like other members of the family, they may be called two-tailed spiders, referring to two elongated spinnerets. The name is derived from the genus Tama and the Ancient Greek ὄψις, meaning "resembling".
Beregama is a genus of South Pacific huntsman spiders that was first described by D. B. Hirst in 1990.
Isopedella is a genus of huntsman spiders that was first described by D. B. Hirst in 1990.
Keilira is a genus of Australian huntsman spiders that was first described by D. B. Hirst in 1989. As of September 2019 it contains two species, found in South Australia and Victoria: K. sokoli and K. sparsomaculata.
Pediana is a genus of huntsman spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1880.
Typostola is a genus of South Pacific huntsman spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1897.
Zachria is a genus of Australian huntsman spiders that was first described by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch in 1875. As of September 2019 it contains two species, found in New South Wales and Western Australia: Z. flavicoma and Z. oblonga. It is not a senior synonym of Eodelena.
Barbara Anne York Main was an Australian arachnologist and adjunct professor at the University of Western Australia. The author of four books and over 90 research papers, Main is recognised for her prolific work in establishing taxonomy for arachnids, personally describing 34 species and seven new genera. The BBC and ABC produced a film about her work, Lady of the Spiders, in 1981.
Barbara Baehr is a German research scientist, entomologist, arachnologist, and spider taxonomist. She has described over 400 new spider species, mostly from Australia. She is originally from Pforzheim, Germany.
Gaius is a genus of large mygalomorph spiders in the family Idiopidae. Erected in 1914 by William Joseph Rainbow, for much of its history the genus contained only one species, Gaius villosus. More species were added in 2018. All are endemic to Western Australia.
Beregama cordata, sometimes called the fire-back huntsman, is a species of spider endemic to Queensland and New South Wales, Australia. It is a member of the genus Beregama of huntsman spiders.