Hexathele hochstetteri
| Banded tunnelweb spider | |
|---|---|
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| Female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Hexathelidae |
| Genus: | Hexathele |
| Species: | H. hochstetteri |
| Binomial name | |
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Hexathele hochstetteri Ausserer, 1871 |
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Hexathele hochstetteri, commonly known as the banded tunnelweb spider, is a spider in the family Hexathelidae, found only in New Zealand. It is common on the North Island, and uncommon on the South Island.
The banded tunnelweb spider (Hexathele hochstetteri) is among New Zealand’s largest spiders, growing up to 20 mm in body length, and is endemic to New Zealand. The easiest way to distinguish a banded tunnelweb spider is to look for the chevron design on its abdomen. The chevron pattern is described as being yellowish, whilst the rest of the abdomen is a darker brown colour. They also have an orange-brown carapace, and six spinnerets. It is these six spinnerets that ultimately distinguish Hexathele hochstetteri from other genera of Hexathelidae, such as Porrhothele, as they only have four spinnerets. Female banded tunnelweb spider eyes occupy around half their head space, whereas males differ, having slightly smaller lateral eyes.
Banded tunnelweb spiders are part of the infraorder Mygalomorphae. Mygalomorphs are a relatively ancient kind of spider that have downward pointing fangs, which have been compared to pick axes. When biting, a tunnelweb spider will press down with these fangs rather than pince together laterally, a trait that is helpful when identifying the spider.
Hexethele hochstetteri was first was described by the Austrian arachnologist Anton Ausserer in 1871, and placed in his newly created genus Hexethele. The specific epithet hochstetteri honours Ferdinand von Hochstetter, who brought a specimen back to Austria from New Zealand as part of the Novara expedition.
The banded tunnelweb spider is endemic to New Zealand. Two genera of hexathelids are found in New Zealand, Hexathele and Porrhothele.
Tunnel-dwelling spiders are found throughout New Zealand in a range of habitats including the coastlines, bushlines and mountainous areas. Specifically, the banded tunnelweb spider is most common in the upper north island of New Zealand, although they are also sometimes found further south. Other closely related species of Hexathelidae are found further south, but the banded tunnelweb spider is most common in the upper north island of New Zealand.
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Wikipedia