Gradungulidae
Encyclopedia
The Gradungulidae are a small spider
family of Australia and New Zealand with 16 species in seven genera. They are medium to large three-clawed haplogyne spiders with two pairs of book-lungs (like Mygalomorphae
).
The genus Gradungula lives in forest litter. Progradungula is the only cribellate genus of the family.
It spins an extensive web consisting of an upper retreat tangle with connecting threads to scaffolding, which supports the ladder-like catching platform, which in turn is glued to the ground. Progradungula is a large spider with very long legs; it resembles Hickmania (Austrochilidae
)
Forster, 1955
Kaiya Gray, 1987
Macrogradungula Gray, 1987
Pianoa Forster, 1987
Progradungula
Forster & Gray, 1979
Spelungula Forster, 1987
Tarlina Gray, 1987
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
family of Australia and New Zealand with 16 species in seven genera. They are medium to large three-clawed haplogyne spiders with two pairs of book-lungs (like Mygalomorphae
Mygalomorphae
The Mygalomorphae, , are an infraorder of spiders. The latter name comes from the orientation of the fangs which point straight down and do not cross each other .-Description:...
).
The genus Gradungula lives in forest litter. Progradungula is the only cribellate genus of the family.
It spins an extensive web consisting of an upper retreat tangle with connecting threads to scaffolding, which supports the ladder-like catching platform, which in turn is glued to the ground. Progradungula is a large spider with very long legs; it resembles Hickmania (Austrochilidae
Austrochilidae
The Austrochilidae are a small spider family with nine species in three genera.Two genera are endemic to the Andean forests of central and southern Chile and adjacent Argentina, the third is endemic to Tasmania.-Species:...
)
Species
GradungulaGradungula
Gradungula sorenseni, the only species in the spider genus Gradungula, occurs in New Zealand and the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia.-Name:...
Forster, 1955
- Gradungula sorenseni Forster, 1955 — New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Kaiya Gray, 1987
- Kaiya bemboka Gray, 1987 — New South WalesNew South WalesNew South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
- Kaiya brindabella (Moran, 1985) — Australian Capital TerritoryAustralian Capital TerritoryThe Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
- Kaiya parnabyi Gray, 1987 — VictoriaVictoria (Australia)Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
- Kaiya terama Gray, 1987 — New South Wales
Macrogradungula Gray, 1987
- Macrogradungula moonya Gray, 1987 — QueenslandQueenslandQueensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
Pianoa Forster, 1987
- Pianoa isolata Forster, 1987 — New Zealand
Progradungula
Progradungula
Progradungula is a spider genus of the family Gradungulidae. It is remarkable for being the first web-building cribellate spider that was found within a "primitive" araneomorph spider family. This helped to establish the idea that all araneomorph spiders evolved from cribellate ancestors...
Forster & Gray, 1979
- Progradungula carraiensisProgradungula carraiensisProgradungula carraiensis, or Carrai cave spider, is a cribellate spider found only in the moist forests and limestone caves of the Carrai Plateau in northern New South Wales.These spiders are 8 to 12 mm long, with long and slender legs...
Forster & Gray, 1979 — New South Wales - Progradungula otwayensis Milledge, 1997 — Victoria
Spelungula Forster, 1987
- Spelungula cavernicolaSpelungula cavernicolaSpelungula cavernicola, or the Nelson cave spider, is a spider which is endemic to New Zealand. It has a body length and a leg span of up to ....
Forster, 1987 — New Zealand
Tarlina Gray, 1987
- Tarlina daviesae Gray, 1987 — Queensland
- Tarlina milledgei Gray, 1987 — New South Wales
- Tarlina noorundi Gray, 1987 — New South Wales
- Tarlina simipes Gray, 1987 — Queensland
- Tarlina smithersi Gray, 1987 — New South Wales
- Tarlina woodwardi (Forster, 1955) — Queensland