Genus Atrax O.P.-Cambridge, 1877
Australian Funnel-web Spiders
- Atrax Cambridge, O.P.- 1877. On some new genera and species of Araneidea. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 4 19: 26-39 pls 6-7 [Jan. 1877] [26].
Type species:
Atrax robustus O.P-Cambridge, 1877 by monotypy. - Euctimena Rainbow, W.J. 1914. Studies in Australian Araneidae. No. 6. The Terretelariae. Records of the Australian Museum 10: 187-270 [15 Aug. 1914] [248-249 fig 58].
Type species:
Euctimena tibialis Rainbow, 1914 by monotypy. - Poikilomorpha Rainbow, W.J. 1914. Studies in Australian Araneidae. No. 6. The Terretelariae. Records of the Australian Museum 10: 187-270 [15 Aug. 1914] [264-265].
Type species:
Poikilomorpha montana Rainbow, 1914 by monotypy.
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
- Musgrave, A. 1927. Some poisonous Australian spiders. Records of the Australian Museum 12: 33-46 pls 2-3 [publication date established from Bonnet, P. 1961. Bibliographia Araneorum (1945–1961). Toulouse : Douadoure 3 vols]
- Gray, M.R. & Sutherland, S.K. 1978. Notes on the taxonomy and distribution of funnel web spiders Genus Atrax. Chapt. 7 in Bettini, S. (ed.) Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology. Vol. 48 Arthropod Venoms. Berlin : Springer Verl.
Introduction
The genus Atrax is included in the subfamily Atracinae Hogg, along with the genera Hadronyche L. Koch and Illawarra Gray. The three species of Atrax are found on the southeastern coast and highlands of Australia, from the Hunter region of New South Wales southwards into eastern Victoria.
Atrax can be distinguished from other atracine genera by possession of a combination of: a large, prominent conical apophysis on tibia II (males only); weakly raised caput; short, basal central cheliceral tooth row; and a short labium.
The burrows often have a weak or incomplete silk lining, usually have trip-lines and are typically situated under rocks and logs.
Distribution
States
Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria
Extra Distribution Information
Australian Endemic.
IBRA
ACT, NSW, Vic: Australian Alps (AA), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH)
Distribution References
- Gray, M.R. 2010. A Revision of the Australian Funnel-web Spiders (Hexathelidae: Atracinae). Records of the Australian Museum 62(2 & 3): 285-392 [Date published 24 November 2010] [297-307]
General References
Gray, M.R. 2010. A Revision of the Australian Funnel-web Spiders (Hexathelidae: Atracinae). Records of the Australian Museum 62(2 & 3): 285-392 [Date published 24 November 2010] [294 (key), 297-307]
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-Oct-2020 | 29-Jun-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 15-Oct-2020 | 17-May-2011 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |