Porrhothele antipodiana

Taxobox
name = "Porrhothele antipodiana"


image_width = 240px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Arachnida
ordo = Araneae
subordo = Mygalomorphae
infraordo = Tuberculotae
familia = Hexathelidae
genus = "Porrhothele"
species = "P. antipodiana"
binomial = "Porrhothele antipodiana"
binomial_authority = (Walckenaer, 1837)
synonyms ="Mygale antipodiana"
"Mygale quoyi"
"Mygale antipodum"
"Mygale hexops"
"Hexops whitei"
"Macrothele huttonii"
"Macrothele insignipes"
"Nemesia kirkii"
"Arbanitis kirkii"
"Porrhothele simoni"
"Porrhothele avocae"

The "Black Tunnelweb Spider", "Porrhothele antipodiana", is a spider found throughout much of New Zealand and the Chatham Islands in bush and gardens. Males are often found indoors during spring and summer when they leave their burrows to find mates. When found inside, they are typically near a source of moisture such as a bathroom or laundry because they desiccate easily. Often all that is found are shrivelled corpses.

Typically living under logs and rocks, they build a silken tunnel with a broad area at the entrance for the detection of prey (often beetles, but they have been recorded eating snails and mice) [ [http://www.tepapa.govt.nz/TePapa/English/CollectionsAndResearch/Collections/InsectsSpidersAndSimilar/Spiders/Spiders_Web/What/Tunnelweb.htm Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, NZ - Black tunnelweb spider (Porrhothele antipodiana) ] ] .

Bites are painful and may cause localised swelling, itching, or numbness. Victims are advised to disinfect the area to reduce the risk of infection. The venom is not dangerous to humans. [New Zealand National Poisons Centre]

This spider was described by director Peter Jackson as the inspiration for Shelob in his Lord of the Rings trilogy. [ [http://www.naturespic.com/NewZealand/image.asp?id=6284 Rob Suisted] ]

Footnotes

References

* (2008): [http://research.amnh.org/entomology/spiders/catalog/index.html The world spider catalog] , version 8.5. "American Museum of Natural History".

External links

* [http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/archive/index.php/t-73991.html Pictures of eggsac]