Hexathele petriei

Hexathele petriei
Conservation status
Not Threatened (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Mygalomorphae
Family:	Hexathelidae
Genus:	Hexathele
Species:	H. petriei
Binomial name
Hexathele petriei Goyen, 1887
Synonyms
Hexathele petrieii

Hexathele petriei is a species of mygalomorph spider endemic to New Zealand.[1]

Taxonomy

This species was described as Hexathele petrieii in 1887 by Peter Goyen from female and male specimens collected in Otago.[2] The original material has since been lost. It was most recently revised in 1968 by Ray Forster. The neotype is stored in Otago Museum.[1]

Description

The female is recorded at 18mm in length. The carapace and legs are pale yellow brown. The abdomen is yellow with a dark patch dorsally.[1]

Distribution and habitat

This species is only known from Central Otago, New Zealand. It occurs in dry open habitat. Its burrows have been found in association with Raoulia eximia.[1]

Conservation status

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

References

1. Forster, Raymond Robert; Wilton, Cecil Louis (1968-01-01). "The Spiders of New Zealand Part II: Ctenizidae, Dipluridae & Migidae" (PDF). Otago Museum bulletin. 2: 1–166.
2. Goyen, P (1887). "Descriptions of new spiders". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 19: 201–212.
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.