Migas taierii

Migas taierii
Conservation status
Nationally Endangered (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Mygalomorphae
Family:	Migidae
Genus:	Migas
Species:	M. taierii
Binomial name
Migas taierii Todd, 1945

Migas taierii is a species of Mygalomorph spider endemic to New Zealand. ^[1]

Taxonomy

This species was described in 1945 by Valerie Todd from male and female specimens collected in Otago. ^[2] It was redescribed in 1968 by Cecil Wilton. The holotype is stored in Otago Museum. ^[1]

Description

The female is recorded at 17.7mm in length. The carapace and legs are pale orange brown. The abdomen is pale brownish grey with some purplish grey dorsally. The male is recorded at 9.2mm in length. The colours are similar to that of the female. ^[1]

Distribution and habitat

This species is only known from Taieri Mouth in Otago, New Zealand. ^[1] They live in sandy banks in burrows above the high tide. ^[2]

Life history

The eggs have been recorded from November to March. The number of eggs in a burrow varies somewhat, but has been recorded up to 157 eggs. The amount of time it takes eggs to hatch has been recorded at five weeks in one record. Roughly a month after hatching, the spiderlings leave the mothers burrow and dig their own. The spiders burrows are known to be around 8.9cm in length. ^[2]

Conservation status and threats

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as "Nationally Endangered" with the qualifiers of "Climate Impact", "Data Poor: Size", "Data Poor: Trend" and "One Location". This species is particularly vulnerable as its only known population is estimated to be around 300 individuals. Their only known population is located in an area that is prone to erosion, further threatening this species. ^[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. Todd, V. (1945). Systematic and biological account of the New Zealand Mygalomorphae (Arachnida). Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand74: 375-407
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.