Kingdom Animalia Class Arachnida Family Archaeidae Rank Genus | Subphylum Chelicerata Infraorder Araneomorphae Phylum Arthropoda Order Spider | |
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Similar Austrarchaea mainae, Austrarchaea griswoldi, Palpimanoidea, Archaeidae, Cycloctenidae | ||
Zephyrarchaea mainae platnick 1991 main s assassin spider
Zephyrarchaea is a genus of assassin spiders that occurs in Australia. It has been encountered in Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia.
Contents
Footage of zephyrarchaea mainae
Taxonomy
The genus Zephyrarchaea was erected by Michael G. Rix and Mark S. Harvey in 2012, for two species formerly placed in the genus Austrarchaea and nine new species. The genus name is based on the Latin zephyrus, meaning "west wind", referring to the western distribution in Australia and a preference for windy, coastal habitats by some species. Zephyrarchaea is distinguished from Austrarchaea by a notably shorter carapace, by the distribution of long hairs (setae) on the male chelicerae, and by the shape of the conductor of the male palpal bulb. The Australian Alps may be a barrier dividing the two genera.
Species
As of October 2016, the World Spider Catalog accepted the following species: