Gradungulidae

Gradungulidae, also known as large-clawed spiders, is a spider family endemic to Australia and New Zealand. They are medium to large-sized haplogyne spiders with three claws and two pairs of book-lungs similar to Mygalomorphae.

Some species build extensive webs with an upper retreat tangle and connecting threads to scaffolding. This supports the ladder-like catching platform that is glued to the ground.

Hickmania, Progradungula (a large spider with long legs like Hickmania,), and Macrogradungula are the only cribellate genera of the family.

Species

, this family includes eight genera and eighteen species:

Gradungula <small>Gertsch, 1958</small>

• Gradungula sorenseni <small>Forster, 1955</small> — New Zealand

Hickmania <small>Forster, 1955</small>

• Hickmania troglodytes <small>(Higgins & Petterd, 1883)</small> — Tasmania

Kaiya <small>Gray, 1987</small>

• Kaiya bemboka <small>Gray, 1987</small> — New South Wales
• Kaiya brindabella <small>(Moran, 1985)</small> — Australian Capital Territory
• Kaiya parnabyi <small>Gray, 1987</small> — Victoria
• Kaiya terama <small>Gray, 1987</small> (type species) — New South Wales

Macrogradungula <small>Gray, 1987</small>

• Macrogradungula moonya <small>Gray, 1987</small> — Queensland

Pianoa <small>Forster, 1987</small>

• Pianoa isolata <small>Forster, 1987</small> — New Zealand

Progradungula <small>Forster & Gray, 1979</small>

• Progradungula barringtonensis <small>Michalik & Smith, 2024</small> – Australia (New South Wales)
• Progradungula carraiensis <small>Forster & Gray, 1979</small> – Australia (New South Wales) (type species)
• Progradungula otwayensis <small>Milledge, 1997</small> – Australia (Victoria)

Spelungula <small>Forster, 1987</small>

• Spelungula cavernicola <small>Forster, 1987</small> — New Zealand

Tarlina <small>Gray, 1987</small>

• Tarlina daviesae <small>Gray, 1987</small> — Queensland
• Tarlina milledgei <small>Gray, 1987</small> — New South Wales
• Tarlina noorundi <small>Gray, 1987</small> (type species) — New South Wales
• Tarlina simipes <small>Gray, 1987</small> — Queensland
• Tarlina smithersi <small>Gray, 1987</small> — New South Wales
• Tarlina woodwardi <small>(Forster, 1955)</small> — Queensland

References

• Forster, R. R., Platnick, N. I. and Gray, M. R. (1987): A review of the spider superfamilies Hypochiloidea and Austrochiloidea (Araneae, Araneomorphae). Bulletin of the AMNH 185(1): 1-116 Abstract - PDF (50Mb)

External links

• Carrai cave spider Progradungula carraiensis