Tartarus (genus)
Encyclopedia
Tartarus is a genus
of spider
s. All four described species are found in caves systems of Western Australia
. These are located in the karst
area of the Nullarbor Plain
. They are likely relict
species from a time when the region was much more humid, given the fact that the other members of the family Stiphidiidae
in Southern Australia live in forests.
, a place in the underworld of Greek mythology
, even lower than Hades
. All four species take their common names, and the specific epithet, from the caves in which they were first collected.
Tartarus murdochensis and Tartarus thampannensis are both commonly called Murdoch
sink cave spider, Tartarus nurinensis is also known as the Nurina cave spider.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of spider
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...
s. All four described species are found in caves systems of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. These are located in the karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
area of the Nullarbor Plain
Nullarbor Plain
The Nullarbor Plain is part of the area of flat, almost treeless, arid or semi-arid country of southern Australia, located on the Great Australian Bight coast with the Great Victoria Desert to its north. It is the world's largest single piece of limestone, and occupies an area of about...
. They are likely relict
Relict
A relict is a surviving remnant of a natural phenomenon.* In biology a relict is an organism that at an earlier time was abundant in a large area but now occurs at only one or a few small areas....
species from a time when the region was much more humid, given the fact that the other members of the family Stiphidiidae
Stiphidiidae
The Stiphidiidae are a spider family with 94 described species in 13 genera. They are generally of medium size and build a horizontal tent-like web under rocks. Most species are speckled brown with long legs....
in Southern Australia live in forests.
Names
The genus name is derived from TartarusTartarus
In classic mythology, below Uranus , Gaia , and Pontus is Tartarus, or Tartaros . It is a deep, gloomy place, a pit, or an abyss used as a dungeon of torment and suffering that resides beneath the underworld. In the Gorgias, Plato In classic mythology, below Uranus (sky), Gaia (earth), and Pontus...
, a place in the underworld of Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, even lower than Hades
Hades
Hades , Hadēs, originally , Haidēs or , Aidēs , meaning "the unseen") was the ancient Greek god of the underworld. The genitive , Haidou, was an elision to denote locality: "[the house/dominion] of Hades". Eventually, the nominative came to designate the abode of the dead.In Greek mythology, Hades...
. All four species take their common names, and the specific epithet, from the caves in which they were first collected.
Tartarus murdochensis and Tartarus thampannensis are both commonly called Murdoch
Murdoch, Western Australia
Murdoch is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Melville. Murdoch University and St John of God Hospital Murdoch are located in Murdoch, as will be the proposed Fiona Stanley Hospital. The suburb is named after Sir Walter Murdoch....
sink cave spider, Tartarus nurinensis is also known as the Nurina cave spider.
Species
- Tartarus mullamullangensisTartarus mullamullangensisTartarus mullamullangensis, informally known as the Mullamullang cave spider, is a palm-sized, long-legged cave spider from Western Australia...
Gray, 1973 (Western Australia) - Tartarus murdochensis Gray, 1992 (Western Australia)
- Tartarus nurinensis Gray, 1992 (Western Australia)
- Tartarus thampannensis Gray, 1992 (Western Australia)