Kauaʻi cave wolf spider
| Kauaʻi cave wolf spider | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Lycosidae |
| Genus: | Adelocosa Gertsch, 1973 |
| Species: | A. anops |
| Binomial name | |
| Adelocosa anops Gertsch, 1973 [2] | |
 | |
The Kauaʻi cave wolf spider, scientific name Adelocosa anops, also known to local residents as the "blind spider", is only known to occur in a few caves in a lava flow with an area of 10.5 square kilometres (4.1 sq mi) in the Kōloa–Poʻipū region of Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands, and only six populations are known to exist.[3] While their nearest surface-dwelling relatives have large eyes, this species has completely lost its eyes. They reach a body length of about 20 millimetres (0.8 in), are reddish brown and completely harmless to people.[4] Unlike most wolf spiders, it produces only 15 to 30 eggs per clutch. The female carries the egg sac in her mouthparts until the spiderlings hatch.[3]
One of its primary prey species is the Kauaʻi cave amphipod, Spelaeorchestia koloana, which is only known from nine populations and reaches about 10 mm (0.4 in) in length.[4] These feed on decomposing plant matter. Both species were discovered in 1971. Counts have never documented more than 30 spiders or 80 amphipods.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1996). "Adelocosa anops". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2009.2. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- ↑ Norman I. Platnick (2010). "Lycosidae". World Spider Catalog, Version 10.5. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
- 1 2 "Endangered Species in the Pacific Islands. Kaua'i Cave Arthropods". United States Fish and Wildlife Service. January 6, 2010.
- 1 2 3 "Hawaii's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (2005): Kaua'i Cave Arthropods" (PDF). October 1, 2005.