Plesiothele | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Araneae |
Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
Family: | Hexathelidae |
Genus: | Plesiothele Raven, 1978 [1] |
Species: | P. fentoni |
Binomial name | |
Plesiothele fentoni (Hickman, 1936) | |
Synonyms | |
Hexathele fentoniHickman, 1936 |
Plesiothele is a monotypic genus of Australian funnel-web spiders containing the single species, Plesiothele fentoni, [2] also known as Lake Fenton trapdoor spider. [3] The genus was first described by Robert John Raven in 1978, [1] and has only been found in Tasmania, Australia. [2] [3] Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980. [4]
Plesiothele fentoni is a ground-dwelling spider that lives in lidless, silk-lined burrows some 5 cm (2.0 in) deep. It grows to 15 mm (0.6 in) in length. The abdomen is yellow-brown and strongly patterned. [3]
Atracidae is a family of mygalomorph spiders, commonly known as Australian funnel-web spiders or atracids. It has been included as a subfamily of the Hexathelidae, but is now recognised as a separate family. All members of the family are native to Australia. Atracidae consists of three genera: Atrax, Hadronyche, and Illawarra, comprising 35 species. Some members of the family produce venom that is dangerous to humans, and bites by spiders of six of the species have caused severe injuries to victims. The bites of the Sydney funnel-web spider and northern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider are potentially deadly, but no fatalities have occurred since the introduction of modern first-aid techniques and antivenom.
Hexathelidae is a family of mygalomorph spiders. It is one of a number of families and genera of spiders known as tunnelweb or funnel-web spiders. In 2018, the family was substantially reduced in size by genera being moved to three separate families: Atracidae, Macrothelidae and Porrhothelidae.
The Sydney funnel-web spider is a species of venomous mygalomorph spider native to eastern Australia, usually found within a 100 km (62 mi) radius of Sydney. It is a member of a group of spiders known as Australian funnel-web spiders. Its bite is capable of causing serious illness or death in humans if left untreated.
Atrax is a genus of venomous Australian funnel web spiders that was first described by O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1877 from the type species Atrax robustus. As of May 2019 it contains only three species: A. robustus, A. sutherlandi, and A. yorkmainorum. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980, then to the Australian funnel-web spiders in 2018.
Hadronyche is a genus of venomous Australian funnel-web spiders that was first described by L. Koch in 1873. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980, then to the Atracidae in 2018.
Barychelidae, also known as brushed trapdoor spiders, is a spider family with about 300 species in 39 genera.
Sason is a genus of bark-dwelling brushed trapdoor spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1887. It is distributed from the Seychelles through India to northern Australia. The closest related genus seems to be the monotypic Paracenobiopelma.
Stanwellia is a genus of South Pacific mygalomorph spiders in the family Pycnothelidae. It was first described by W. J. Rainbow & R. H. Pulleine in 1918. Originally placed with the curtain-web spiders, it was transferred to the funnel-web trapdoor spiders in 1985, then to the Pycnothelidae in 2020. It is a senior synonym of Aparua.
Porrhothele is a genus of mygalomorph spiders endemic to New Zealand. They are the only members of the family Porrhothelidae. They were first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1892. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980, they were placed in their own family in 2018.
Cataxia is a genus of Australian armoured trapdoor spiders that was first described by William Joseph Rainbow in 1914.
Hadronyche macquariensis, the Port Macquarie funnel-web spider, is a venomous mygalomorph spider, one of a number of species of Australian funnel-web spiders] found in New South Wales.
Hexathele is a genus of tunnelweb spiders endemic to New Zealand that was first described by Anton Ausserer in 1871, though most others have been described by Raymond Robert Forster. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980.
Paraembolides is a genus of Australian funnel-web spiders that was first described by Robert John Raven in 1980.
Scotinoecus is a genus of South American funnel-web spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1892. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980.
Teranodes is a genus of Australian funnel-web spiders that was first described by Robert John Raven in 1985. As of May 2019 it contains only two species: T. montanus and T. otwayensis. It was originally given the name "Terania", but it was later changed to "Teranodes" when it was discovered that the name was already in use for a genus of beetles.
Entypesa is a genus of African mygalomorph spiders in the family Entypesidae. It was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1902. Originally placed with the curtain-web spiders, it was transferred to the funnel-web trapdoor spiders in 1985, then to the Entypesidae in 2020. It is a senior synonym of Pseudohermacha.
Cryptoforis is a genus of armoured trapdoor spiders. It is endemic to Australia. It was first described by Jeremy Wilson, Michael Rix and Robert Raven in 2020.
Dr Michael Robert Blair Gray was an arachnologist who specialised in the taxonomy of spiders at the Australian Museum in Sydney with a particular interest in the systematics of Australian funnel-web spiders (Atracidae).