Family MICROPHOLCOMMATIDAE Hickman, 1944


Compiler and date details

2011 - Helen M. Smith

Valerie Todd Davies, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

 

 

Introduction

The Micropholcommatidae are minute, 3-clawed spiders without book-lungs. They build small irregular webs. Much information on the family has recently been contributed in publications by Rix et al., including a molecular phylogeny of the family (Rix, Harvey & Roberts 2008), and a major generic level revisionary study (Rix & Harvey 2010).

 

Diagnosis

Minute to tiny (up to 2mm) litter-dwelling entelegyne spiders. 6 or 8 eyes. Abdomen broadly oval, or circular; laterally normal, or high; laterally with 3 or more extensive scute; dorsal scute covers all or most of dorsum, or with small, scattered sclerotized spots; ventral scute covers outer edges of book lung openings; pedicel entirely sclerotised and inserted at ventral scutum. Spinnerets encircled by sclerotised ring. Tarsi about twice as long as metatarsi; palp on female entire, reduced or absent. 3 claws.

 

Diagnosis References

Raven, R.J., Baehr, B.C. & Harvey, M.S. 2002. An Interactive Key to Australian Spider Subfamilies. Melbourne : Australian Biological Resources Study: CSIRO Publishing.

 

General References

Rix, M.G, Harvey, M.S. & Roberts, J.D. 2008. Molecular phylogenetics of the spider family Micropholcommatidae (Arachnida: Araneae) using nuclear rRNA genes (18S and 28S). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 46: 1031-1048

Rix, M.G. & Harvey, M.S. 2010. The spider family Micropholcommatidae (Arachnida, Araneae, Araneoidea): a relimitation and revision at the generic level. ZooKeys 36: 1-321

 

History of changes

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Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
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Genus Austropholcomma Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

Tasmania, Western Australia


IBRA

Tas: Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE) ; WA: Warren (WAR)

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Species Austropholcomma florentine Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

Tasmania


Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

Tas: Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE)

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Species Austropholcomma walpole Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

Western Australia


Extra Distribution Information

Only recorded from the area immediately surrounding Walpole, in the far south of Western Australia

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

WA: Warren (WAR)

History of changes

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Genus Eperiella Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

Tasmania


Extra Distribution Information

The genus also contains a single Chilean species.


IBRA

Tas: Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR)

History of changes

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Species Eperiella hastings Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

Tasmania


Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

Tas: Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR)

History of changes

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Genus Epigastrina Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

Tasmania


IBRA

Tas: Ben Lomond (BEL), Flinders (FLI), King (KIN), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE)

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Species Epigastrina fulva (Hickman, 1945)

 

Generic Combinations

 

Distribution

States

Tasmania


Extra Distribution Information

Relatively common and widespread in Tasmania

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

Tas: Ben Lomond (BEL), Flinders (FLI), King (KIN), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Predator, sedentary.

Extra Ecological Information

In moss and leaf litter.

 

General References

Davies, V.T. 1985. Araneomorphae (in part). pp. 49-125 in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol. 3 Mygalomorphae, Araneomorphae in part, Pseudoscorpionida, Amblypygi and Palpigradi. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service 183 pp. [113]

 

History of changes

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Species Epigastrina loongana Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

Tasmania


Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

Tas: Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS)

History of changes

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Species Epigastrina typhlops Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

Tasmania


Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

Tas: Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS)

History of changes

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Genus Eterosonycha Butler, 1932

 

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

 

Introduction

The genus Eterosonycha was previously placed in the family Zodariidae, transferred here by Davies (1985). Davies recognised it was likely that Eterosonycha would be found to be a senior synonym of Textricella.

 

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria


Extra Distribution Information

South eastern Australia north to the Sydney region

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

NSW, Tas, Vic: Australian Alps (AA), Ben Lomond (BEL), Flinders (FLI), King (KIN), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE)

Distribution References

General References

Davies, V.T. 1985. Araneomorphae (in part). pp. 49-125 in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol. 3 Mygalomorphae, Araneomorphae in part, Pseudoscorpionida, Amblypygi and Palpigradi. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service 183 pp. [113]

Rix, M.G. & Harvey, M.S. 2010. The spider family Micropholcommatidae (Arachnida, Araneae, Araneoidea): a relimitation and revision at the generic level. ZooKeys 36: 1-321 [37-38]

 

History of changes

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Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
15-Oct-2020 20-Jun-2012 MODIFIED
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12-Feb-2010 (import)

Species Eterosonycha alpina Butler, 1932

 

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

 

Generic Combinations

 

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria


Extra Distribution Information

Rix & Harvey (2010) report this to be a "relatively widespread species, found throughout Tasmania and on the Australian mainland north to at least southern New South Wales". Few records are given, and the map here is based on this description of distribution.

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

NSW, Tas, Vic: Australian Alps (AA), Ben Lomond (BEL), Flinders (FLI), King (KIN), South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Predator.

Extra Ecological Information

In moss.

 

General References

Davies, V.T. 1985. Araneomorphae (in part). pp. 49-125 in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol. 3 Mygalomorphae, Araneomorphae in part, Pseudoscorpionida, Amblypygi and Palpigradi. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service 183 pp. [113-114] (as two separate entries)

Rix, M.G. & Harvey, M.S. 2010. The spider family Micropholcommatidae (Arachnida, Araneae, Araneoidea): a relimitation and revision at the generic level. ZooKeys 36: 1-321 [38-39 figs 11D, 48A-D, 49A-B, 50, 51A-B, 56A-H, 57A-H, 58A-F, 59A-D, 60A-H, 71A, 222A-B]

 

History of changes

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Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
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Species Eterosonycha aquilina Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Tasmania, Victoria


Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

NSW, Tas, Vic: Australian Alps (AA), Ben Lomond (BEL), Flinders (FLI), South Eastern Highlands (SEH)

History of changes

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Species Eterosonycha complexa (Forster, 1959)

 

Generic Combinations

 

Distribution

States

New South Wales


Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

NSW: Sydney Basin (SB)

Ecological Descriptors

Litter, predator, sedentary.

 

General References

Davies, V.T. 1985. Araneomorphae (in part). pp. 49-125 in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol. 3 Mygalomorphae, Araneomorphae in part, Pseudoscorpionida, Amblypygi and Palpigradi. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service 183 pp. [113]

 

History of changes

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15-Oct-2020 20-Jun-2012 MODIFIED
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Species Eterosonycha ocellata Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

Victoria


Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

Vic: South Eastern Highlands (SEH)

History of changes

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Genus Normplatnicka Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia


Extra Distribution Information

The genus is also recorded in Chile


IBRA

NSW, Qld, Vic: South East Corner (SEC) ; NSW, Qld, Vic, WA: South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Warren (WAR)

History of changes

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Species Normplatnicka barrettae Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

Western Australia


Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

WA: Warren (WAR)

History of changes

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Species Normplatnicka lamingtonensis (Forster, 1959)

 

Generic Combinations

 

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria


Extra Distribution Information

Border Ranges of south east Queensland to Victoria; the distribution shown here is approximate, based on Rix & Harvey (2010)

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

NSW, Qld, Vic: South East Coastal Plain (SCP), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Closed forest, predator, sedentary.

 

General References

Davies, V.T. 1985. Araneomorphae (in part). pp. 49-125 in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol. 3 Mygalomorphae, Araneomorphae in part, Pseudoscorpionida, Amblypygi and Palpigradi. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service 183 pp. [89]

 

History of changes

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Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
15-Oct-2020 20-Jun-2012 MODIFIED
15-Oct-2020 06-Jul-2011 MOVED
12-Feb-2010 (import)

Genus Olgania Hickman, 1979

 

Introduction

The genus Olgania was originally described in the family Anapidae, and moved to the Micropholcommatidae by Platnick & Forster (1989: 76). Phylogenetic relationships were further investigated by Rix et al. (2008) and Rix & Harvey (2010)

 

Distribution

States

Tasmania


Extra Distribution Information

The distribution of O. excavata Hickman and several new species is given by Rix & Harvey (2010)

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

Tas: Ben Lomond (BEL), Flinders (FLI), King (KIN), Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian Northern Midlands (TNM), Tasmanian Northern Slopes (TNS), Tasmanian South East (TSE), Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR), Tasmanian West (TWE)

General References

Platnick, N.I. & Forster, R.R. 1989. A revision of the temperate South American and Australasian spiders of the family Anapidae (Araneae, Araneoidea). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 190: 1-139

Rix, M.G, Harvey, M.S. & Roberts, J.D. 2008. Molecular phylogenetics of the spider family Micropholcommatidae (Arachnida: Araneae) using nuclear rRNA genes (18S and 28S). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 46: 1031-1048

Rix, M.G. & Harvey, M.S. 2010. The spider family Micropholcommatidae (Arachnida, Araneae, Araneoidea): a relimitation and revision at the generic level. ZooKeys 36: 1-321

 

History of changes

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Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
15-Oct-2020 20-Jun-2012 MODIFIED
15-Oct-2020 25-Jul-2011 MODIFIED
11-Jul-2011 MODIFIED

Species Olgania cracroft Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

Tasmania


Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

Tas: Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR)

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
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Species Olgania eberhardi Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

Tasmania


Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

Tas: Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR)

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
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Species Olgania excavata Hickman, 1979

 

Generic Combinations

 

Distribution

States

Tasmania


Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

Tas: Tasmanian Central Highlands (TCH), Tasmanian West (TWE)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Predator.

Extra Ecological Information

In moss (epigean populations) and in caves

 

General References

Davies, V.T. 1985. Araneomorphae (in part). pp. 49-125 in Walton, D.W. (ed.). Zoological Catalogue of Australia Vol. 3 Mygalomorphae, Araneomorphae in part, Pseudoscorpionida, Amblypygi and Palpigradi. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service 183 pp. [55]

Rix, M.G. & Harvey, M.S. 2010. The spider family Micropholcommatidae (Arachnida, Araneae, Araneoidea): a relimitation and revision at the generic level. ZooKeys 36: 1-321 [91-92 figs 7O, 152D-E, 176A-D, 177A-C, 178A, 188A-F, 189A-D, 190A-F, 191A-D, 192A-F, 213, 223A–B] (biology)

 

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Species Olgania troglodytes Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

Tasmania


Extra Distribution Information

Found in several caves in the Ida Bay karst of Tasmania

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

Tas: Tasmanian Southern Ranges (TSR)

History of changes

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Species Olgania weld Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

Tasmania


Extra Distribution Information

Known only from type locality.

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

Tas: Tasmanian West (TWE)

History of changes

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Genus Patelliella Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.


Other Regions

Lord Howe Island terrestrial & freshwater

History of changes

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Species Patelliella adusta Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Only known from Mt Gower and Mt Lidgbird, Lord Howe Island

Australian Endemic.


Other Regions

Lord Howe Island terrestrial & freshwater

History of changes

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Genus Rayforstia Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

Queensland


Extra Distribution Information

The genus occurs in Australia and New Zealand


IBRA

Qld: South Eastern Queensland (SEQ)

Other Regions

Lord Howe Island terrestrial & freshwater

History of changes

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Species Rayforstia lordhowensis Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.


Other Regions

Lord Howe Island terrestrial & freshwater

History of changes

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Species Rayforstia raveni Rix & Harvey, 2010

 

Distribution

States

Queensland


Extra Distribution Information

Australian Endemic.


IBRA

Qld: South Eastern Queensland (SEQ)

History of changes

Note that this list may be incomplete for dates prior to September 2013.
Published As part of group Action Date Action Type Compiler(s)
15-Oct-2020 20-Jun-2012 MODIFIED
06-Jul-2011 ADDED