Moggridgea tingle
Encyclopedia
Moggridgea tingle, also called the Tingle trapdoor spider is a small, basal
spider endemic to the tingle
and karri forest of southwestern Australia
. This migid
was first recorded in the 1990s.
West Australian species of the Migidae family remained undiscovered until 1990 and were first described and named by Dr Barbara Main in 1991. M. tingle was discovered by accident in a laboratory analysis of another arachnid and the bark in which it was living, the spider was noticed when it emerged as the sample was discarded. The specific epithet is derived from the common name 'tingle', the tree from which the bark was taken.
residing in the soil or the bark of a Eucalyptus tree, the Red tingle Eucalyptus jacksonii
. The spider's habitat is located within the Tingle and Karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor) forests of the Warren region
, a biodiversity hotspot
containing other species of gondwana
n heritage. Another species (possibly several) of Moggridgea have been, living further south, in the Stirling
and Porongurup Ranges. The closest extant relatives of the spider are found at Kangaroo Island
, Socotra
and in southern Africa.
Moggridgea tingle live within the topsoil or in the fibrous bark of Eucalyptus jacksonii (Tingle trees), constructing nests of silk tubes. These tubes, up 20 mm long, have an opening at the surface of the bark or soil with a hinged 'trapdoor' cover made of moss, bark and the spider's silk. It is found in damp and shady locations.
M. tingle is vulnerable to fire and habitat destruction associated with roads. Planning exists to reduce damage to the species habitat during fire management operations such as 'prescribed burns'. It has a status of endangered due to destruction of habitat.
Basal (phylogenetics)
In phylogenetics, a basal clade is the earliest clade to branch in a larger clade; it appears at the base of a cladogram.A basal group forms an outgroup to the rest of the clade, such as in the following example:...
spider endemic to the tingle
Eucalyptus jacksonii
The Red Tingle of south west Western Australia is one of the tallest trees in the state and can measure up to 24 metres round at the base and grow to a height of 75 metres and live for up to 400 years....
and karri forest of southwestern Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. This migid
Migidae
The tree trapdoor spiders are a spider family with about 90 species in 10 genera.These small spiders are not hairy.They build burrows with a trapdoor...
was first recorded in the 1990s.
Description
Moggridgea tingle is less than 10 millimetres long, the female carapace length is 2.6 - 3.1 mm. The carapace and legs are black and shiny.West Australian species of the Migidae family remained undiscovered until 1990 and were first described and named by Dr Barbara Main in 1991. M. tingle was discovered by accident in a laboratory analysis of another arachnid and the bark in which it was living, the spider was noticed when it emerged as the sample was discarded. The specific epithet is derived from the common name 'tingle', the tree from which the bark was taken.
Distribution
The migid is found at four sites in the Walpole-Nornalup National ParkWalpole-Nornalup National Park
Walpole-Nornalup National Park is a national park in the South West region of Western Australia , 355 km south of Perth. It is famous for its towering Karri and Tingle trees. Red Tingle trees are unique to the Walpole area.-Tourism:...
residing in the soil or the bark of a Eucalyptus tree, the Red tingle Eucalyptus jacksonii
Eucalyptus jacksonii
The Red Tingle of south west Western Australia is one of the tallest trees in the state and can measure up to 24 metres round at the base and grow to a height of 75 metres and live for up to 400 years....
. The spider's habitat is located within the Tingle and Karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor) forests of the Warren region
Warren (biogeographic region)
Warren, also known as Karri Forest Region and the Jarrah-Karri forest and shrublands ecoregion, is a biogeographic region in southern Western Australia. Located in the southwest corner of Western Australia between Cape Naturaliste and Albany, it is bordered to the north and east by the Jarrah...
, a biodiversity hotspot
Biodiversity hotspot
A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans.The concept of biodiversity hotspots was originated by Norman Myers in two articles in “The Environmentalist” , revised after thorough analysis by Myers and others in...
containing other species of gondwana
Gondwana
In paleogeography, Gondwana , originally Gondwanaland, was the southernmost of two supercontinents that later became parts of the Pangaea supercontinent. It existed from approximately 510 to 180 million years ago . Gondwana is believed to have sutured between ca. 570 and 510 Mya,...
n heritage. Another species (possibly several) of Moggridgea have been, living further south, in the Stirling
Stirling Range
The Stirling Range or Koikyennuruff is a range of mountains and hills in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, 337 km south-east of Perth. It is located at approximately and is over 60 km wide from west to east, stretching from the highway between Mount Barker and Cranbrook...
and Porongurup Ranges. The closest extant relatives of the spider are found at Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island
Kangaroo Island is Australia's third-largest island after Tasmania and Melville Island. It is southwest of Adelaide at the entrance of Gulf St Vincent. Its closest point to the mainland is off Cape Jervis, on the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in the state of South Australia. The island is long...
, Socotra
Socotra
Socotra , also spelt Soqotra, is a small archipelago of four islands in the Indian Ocean. The largest island, also called Socotra, is about 95% of the landmass of the archipelago. It lies some east of the Horn of Africa and south of the Arabian Peninsula. The island is very isolated and through...
and in southern Africa.
Ecology
M. tingle is vulnerable to fire and habitat destruction associated with roads. Planning exists to reduce damage to the species habitat during fire management operations such as 'prescribed burns'. It has a status of endangered due to destruction of habitat.
External links
- http://www.southernnrmcouncil.com/documents/publications/strategy/background/Background_Paper_02_Biodiversity.pdf Conservation strategy: background paper "Biodiversity"