Courtaraneus

Courtaraneus

Data Deficient (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Araneidae
Genus: Courtaraneus
Framenau, Vink, McQuillan & Simpson, 2022
Species:
C. orientalis
Binomial name
Courtaraneus orientalis
(Urquhart, 1887)
Synonyms
  • Epeira orientalis
  • Neoscona orientalis

Courtaraneus orientalis is a species of Araneidae that is endemic to New Zealand. It is currently the only species in Courtaraneus, which was described in 2022.[1]

Taxonomy

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This species was described as Epeira orientalis in 1887 by Arthur Urquhart from female and male specimens collected in Te Karaka.[2] It was most recently revised in 2022, in which it was moved to the Courtaraneus genus. It is the only member of the genus.[1]

Description

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The female is recorded at 11.5mm in length whereas the male is 7.3mm. This species has complex colour patterns.[1]

Distribution

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This species is only known from the North Island of New Zealand.[1]

Conservation status

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Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as "Data Deficient" with the qualifiers of "Data Poor: Size" and "Data Poor: Trend".[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Framenau, Volker W.; Vink, Cor J.; McQuillan, Bryce N.; Simpson, Angela H. (2022-04-03). "A new genus for a large, endemic orb-weaving spider (Araneae, Araneidae) from New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Zoology. 49 (2): 129–142. doi:10.1080/03014223.2021.1951309. ISSN 0301-4223.
  2. ^ Urquhart, A.T. (1887). "On new species of Araneida". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute. 19: 72–118.
  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.