Cryptaranea venustula is a species of orb-weaver spider that is endemic to New Zealand.[1]

Cryptaranea venustula

Not Threatened (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Araneidae
Genus: Cryptaranea
Species:
C. venustula
Binomial name
Cryptaranea venustula
(Urquhart, 1891)
Synonyms
  • Epeira venustula
  • Epeira munda
  • Epeira munda inversa
  • Araneus venustulus
  • Aranea mundania
  • Aranea mundania inversa

Taxonomy

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This species was described as Epeira venustula in 1891 by Arthur Urquhart from a female specimen collected in Stratford.[2] It was most recently revised in 1988, in which it was transferred to the Cryptaranea genus.[1]

Description

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The female is recorded at 6.5mm in length whereas the male is 3.4mm.[1]

Distribution

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This species is widespread throughout New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands.[1]

Conservation status

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

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Court, D. J. & Forster, R. R. (1988). The spiders of New Zealand: Part VI. Family Araneidae. Otago Museum Bulletin 6: 68-124.
  2. ^ Urquhart, A.T. (1891). "On new species of Araneae". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 23: 128–189.
  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.