Ascuta australis is a species of Orsolobidae spider of the genus Ascuta.[1] The species is endemic to New Zealand
| Ascuta australis | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Orsolobidae |
| Genus: | Ascuta |
| Species: | A. australis
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| Binomial name | |
| Ascuta australis | |
Taxonomy
editThis species was first described from two specimens by Ray Forster in 1956.[2][3] The holotype specimen was collected by Richard Dell and Beverley Holloway at Murderer's Cove, Big South Cape Island, near Stewart Island, during the 1955 Dominion Museum expedition.[4]
The holotype is stored at Te Papa Museum under registration number AS.002421.[5]
Description
editThe male is roughly 1.8mm in length. The carapace is yellow brown whilst the abdomen is creamy white. The female is identical but is somewhat smaller.[3]
Distribution
editThis species is only known from Big South Cape Island near Stewart Island in New Zealand.[3]
Conservation status
editUnder the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as Naturally Uncommon with the qualifiers of "Island Endemic" and "One Location".[6]
References
edit
- ^ a b "Ascuta australis Forster, 1956". biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
- ^ "Ascuta australis Forster, 1956 - World Spider Catalog". wsc.nmbe.ch. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
- ^ a b c R. R. Forster (1956). "New Zealand spiders of the family Oonopidae". Records of the Canterbury Museum. 7: 130. ISSN 0370-3878. Wikidata Q125573189. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024.
- ^ "Ascuta australis Forster, 1956". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
- ^ "Loading... | Collections Online - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa". collections.tepapa.govt.nz. Retrieved 2024-07-13.
- ^ "NZTCS". nztcs.org.nz. Retrieved 2024-07-13.