Hexathele petriei

Hexathele petriei is a species of Mygalomorph spider endemic to New Zealand.^[1]

Hexathele petriei
Conservation status
Not Threatened (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Mygalomorphae
Family:	Hexathelidae
Genus:	Hexathele
Species:	H. petriei
Binomial name
Hexathele petriei Goyen, 1887
Synonyms
Hexathele petrieii

Taxonomy

This species was described as Hexathele petrieii in 1887 by Peter Goyen from female and male specimens collected in Otago.^[2] The original material has since been lost. It was most recently revised in 1968 by Ray Forster. The neotype is stored in Otago Museum.^[1]

Description

The female is recorded at 18mm in length. The carapace and legs are pale yellow brown. The abdomen is yellow with a dark patch dorsally.^[1]

Distribution and habitat

This species is only known from Central Otago, New Zealand. It occurs in dry open habitat. Its burrows have been found in association with Raoulia eximia.^[1]

Conservation status

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as Not Threatened.^[3]

References

1. Forster, Raymond Robert; Wilton, Cecil Louis (1968-01-01). "The Spiders of New Zealand Part II: Ctenizidae, Dipluridae & Migidae" (PDF). Otago Museum bulletin. 2: 1–166.
2. Goyen, P (1887). "Descriptions of new spiders". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 19: 201–212.
3. Sirvid, P. J.; Vink, C. J.; Fitzgerald, B. M.; Wakelin, M. D.; Rolfe, J.; Michel, P. (2020-01-01). "Conservation status of New Zealand Araneae (spiders), 2020" (PDF). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. 34: 1–37.