Systematics of the giant spiny trapdoor spiders of the genus Gaius Rainbow (Mygalomorphae: Idiopidae: Aganippini): Documenting an iconic lineage of the Western Australian inland arid zone

Abstract

The aganippine spiny trapdoor spiders of the genus Gaius Rainbow, 1914 are revised. Seven new species are described from Western Australia: G. aurora sp. nov., G. austini sp. nov., G. cooperi sp. nov., G. hueyi sp. nov., G. humphreysi sp. nov., G. mainae sp. nov. and G. tealei sp. nov. The type species, G. villosus Rainbow, 1914, is re-illustrated and re-diagnosed, and molecular data for six (of eight) species and six genes are analyzed with Bayesian methods. Species of Gaius are iconic denizens of the Western Australian inland arid zone, renowned for their large size and extreme longevity. We here document the known diversity and conservation status of these spiders, and summarize their unusual biology and phenology.

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

2018

Volume

46

Issue

3

School

School of Science

Copyright

subscription content

Publisher

American Arachnological Society

Comments

Rix, M. G., Raven, R. J., & Harvey, M. S. (2018). Systematics of the giant spiny trapdoor spiders of the genus Gaius Rainbow (Mygalomorphae: Idiopidae: Aganippini): Documenting an iconic lineage of the Western Australian inland arid zone. The Journal of Arachnology, 46(3), 438-472. https://doi.org/10.1636/JoA-S-17-079.1

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.1636/JoA-S-17-079.1