Rapua

Rapua
Conservation status
Not Threatened (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Desidae
Genus:	Rapua Forster, 1970 [1]
Species:	R. australis
Binomial name
Rapua australis Forster, 1970

Rapua is a monotypic genus of intertidal spiders containing the single species, Rapua australis. It is endemic to New Zealand. ^{[1] [2]}

Taxonomy

This genus was described by Ray Forster in 1970 from male and female specimens. The holotype is stored in Canterbury Museum. ^[2]

Description

The male is recorded at 8mm in length whereas the female is 8.2mm. The carapace is coloured reddish brown. The legs are orange brown. The abdomen is creamy with dark patches. ^[2]

Distribution

This species is only known from Stewart Island and the South Island of New Zealand. ^[2]

Conservation status

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as "Not Threatened". ^[3]

References

1. "Gen. Rapua Forster, 1970". World Spider Catalog Version 20.0. Natural History Museum Bern. 2019. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 2019-06-01.
2. Forster, R. R. (1970). The spiders of New Zealand. Part III. Otago Museum Bulletin3: 1-184.
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.