Gradungula is a monotypic genus of South Pacific large-clawed spiders containing the single species, Gradungula sorenseni. It is only found in New Zealand.[1]

Gradungula
Gradungula sorenseni (adult male topotype)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Gradungulidae
Genus: Gradungula
Forster, 1955[1]
Species:
G. sorenseni
Binomial name
Gradungula sorenseni
Forster, 1955

Etymology

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The genus name is derived from Latin gradus "step" and ungula "claw", referring to the enlarged front leg claws of this species. These claws also occur in other species of the family Gradungulidae.[1] The species name "sorenseni" is named after Jack Sorensen, the discoverer of the species.[2]

Taxonomy

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Gradungula sorenseni was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1955.[3]

Distribution

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Gradungula sorenseni is distributed in forests throughout the western South Island and throughout Stewart Island. [4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Gen. Gradungula Forster, 1955". World Spider Catalog Version 20.0. Natural History Museum Bern. 2019. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
  2. ^ Forster, Ray; Forster, Lyn (1999). Spiders Of New Zealand And Their World Wide Kin. Otago, New Zealand: University of Otago Press. pp. 119–124.
  3. ^ Forster, R. R. (1955). "A new family of spiders of the sub-order Hypochilomorphae". Pacific Science. 9: 277–285. hdl:10125/12859.
  4. ^ Forster, R. R., Platnick, N. I. & Gray, M. R. (1987). A review of the spider superfamilies Hypochiloidea and Austrochiloidea (Araneae, Araneomorphae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 185: 1-116.