FNZ 70 - Periegopidae (Arachnida: Araneae) - Popular summary
Vink, CJ; Dupérré, N; Malumbres-Olarte, J 2013. Periegopidae (Arachnida: Araneae). Fauna of New Zealand 70, 41 pages.
(
ISSN 0111-5383 (print),
ISSN 1179-7193 (online)
;
no.
70.
ISBN 978-0-478-34740-1 (print),
ISBN 978-0-478-34741-8 (online)
).
Published 7 Mar 2013
ZooBank: http://zoobank.org/References/E8D9D21A-46FD-4E6B-9E79-DBE67BAE57D1
Periegopid spiders
There are only three species known in the family Perigopidae and all are in one genus, Periegops. These rare spiders have only ever been found in relict forests at limited locations in New Zealand (Banks Peninsula, Riccarton Bush, the Aldermen Islands, and East Cape) and Queensland, Australia. Periegopids are only found in forest with a deep leaf litter layer and well-drained soil. They do not build a web, but hunt on the forest floor. Periegopids can be most readily distinguished from other spiders found in New Zealand by having six eyes arranged in three widely spaced diads.