Pianoa

Pianoa
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Gradungulidae
Genus:	Pianoa Forster, 1987 [1]
Species:	P. isolata
Binomial name
Pianoa isolata Forster, 1987

Pianoa is a monotypic genus of large-clawed spiders endemic to New Zealand. It contains a single species, Pianoa isolata, known commonly as the piano flat spider.

It was first described by Raymond Robert Forster, Norman I. Platnick & Michael R. Gray in 1987. ^{[2] [3]}

Distribution

The piano flat spider is found throughout the Waikaia Forest and at other locations in northern Southland and west Otago. ^[4]

Description

Juveniles are pale white with no markings, but develop pigmentation after several molts. ^[2]

Egg sacs are pale cream or white in colour. ^[2]

Habitat

P. isolata has been observed living in leaf litter and rotting logs on the forest floor. ^{[5] [6]}

Behaviour and diet

The piano flat spider is nocturnal. It is an active hunter and does not build a web, instead using a large claw on the end of its first and second legs to seize prey, which it bites repeatedly. ^{[4] [7]}

Egg-sacs are laid in the cavities of fallen logs in late spring to early summer. After three to four weeks, juveniles emerge from a small hole at the base of the egg-sac. ^[8]

Conservation

The piano flat spider is classified as At Risk (Relict) by the Department of Conservation. ^[9]

References

1. Gloor, Daniel; Nentwig, Wolfgang; Blick, Theo; Kropf, Christian (2019). "Gen. Pianoa Forster, 1987". World Spider Catalog Version 20.0. Natural History Museum Bern. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 2019-06-07.
2. Forster, R. R.; Platnick, N. I.; Gray, M. R. (1987). "A review of the spider superfamilies Hypochiloidea and Austrochiloidea (Araneae, Araneomorphae)". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 185: 1–116.
3. "NMBE - World Spider Catalog". wsc.nmbe.ch. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
4. "New Zealand Invertebrates - Rod Morris". www.rodmorris.co.nz. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
5. "Waikaia, Southern Coast, New Zealand". www.visit-newzealand.co.nz. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
6. Piano Flat and Waikaia Forest (PDF). Department of Conservation. 2001.
7. Noted. "Passport to Waikaia: Southland's slice of paradise". www.noted.co.nz. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
8. Forster, Raymond R.; Platnick, Norman I.; Gray, Michael R. (1987). "A review of the spider superfamilies Hypochiloidea and Austrochiloidea (Araneae, Araneomorphae)". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 185. hdl:2246/969.
9. Sirvid, P. J.; Vink, C. J.; Wakelin, M. D.; Fitzgerald, B. M.; Hitchmough, R. A.; Stringer, I. A.N. (July 2012). "The conservation status of New Zealand Araneae". New Zealand Entomologist. 35 (2): 85–90. Bibcode:2012NZEnt..35...85S. doi:10.1080/00779962.2012.686310. ISSN   0077-9962. S2CID   84574921.