Observations on Cantuaria toddi and other trapdoor spiders (Aranea : Mygalomorpha) in Central Otago, New Zealand
Year: 1972
Type: article
Abstract: The members of genus Cantuaria (family Ctenizidae) are mygalomorph spiders mostly confined to the South Island of New Zealand. They inhabit burrows, usually closed by trapdoors, and are extremely sedentary, characters which make them especially suitable for the study of the detailed distribution of species and of geographical subspeciation. Their distribution in Otago seems patchy for no obvious reasons; local conditions need intensive study. They are large carnivorous animals which can form high density populations (23 per square metre), possibly being enabled to do this because of long life and low metabolic rate. In limited areas the density can be much higher. An area near Alexandra inhabited by C. toddi was surveyed over a period of six years, and individual burrows could be recognised and remeasured repeatedly. Growth was slow and very little change took place, but of 16 individual burrows which were remeasured six years later, some of the smaller ones had almost doubled their size.
Authors: B. J. Marples, M. J. Marples
Institution: University of Otago
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2032779697