Gradungula is a monotypic genus of South Pacific large-clawed spiders containing the single species, Gradungula sorenseni. It is only found in New Zealand.[1]
| Gradungula | |
|---|---|
| |
| Gradungula sorenseni (adult male topotype) | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Gradungulidae |
| Genus: | Gradungula Forster, 1955[1] |
| Species: | G. sorenseni
|
| Binomial name | |
| Gradungula sorenseni Forster, 1955
| |
Etymology
editThe genus name is derived from Latin gradus "step" and ungula "claw", referring to the enlarged front leg claws of this species. These claws also occur in other species of the family Gradungulidae.[1] The species name "sorenseni" is named after Jack Sorensen, the discoverer of the species.[2]
Taxonomy
editGradungula sorenseni was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1955.[3]
Distribution
editGradungula sorenseni is distributed in forests throughout the western South Island and throughout Stewart Island. [4]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Gen. Gradungula Forster, 1955". World Spider Catalog Version 20.0. Natural History Museum Bern. 2019. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
- ^ Forster, Ray; Forster, Lyn (1999). Spiders Of New Zealand And Their World Wide Kin. Otago, New Zealand: University of Otago Press. pp. 119–124.
- ^ Forster, R. R. (1955). "A new family of spiders of the sub-order Hypochilomorphae". Pacific Science. 9: 277–285. hdl:10125/12859.
- ^ Forster, R. R., Platnick, N. I. & Gray, M. R. (1987). A review of the spider superfamilies Hypochiloidea and Austrochiloidea (Araneae, Araneomorphae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 185: 1-116.
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