Gradungula

Gradungula
Gradungula sorenseni
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Gradungulidae
Genus: Gradungula
Forster, 1955
Species:
G. sorenseni
Binomial name
Gradungula sorenseni
Forster, 1955

Gradungula is a monotypic genus of South Pacific large-clawed spiders containing the single species, Gradungula sorenseni. It is only found in New Zealand.

Etymology

The genus name is derived from Latin gradus "step" and ungula "claw", referring to the enlarged front leg claws of this species. These claws also occur in other species of the family Gradungulidae.[citation needed] The species is named after Jack Sorensen, the discoverer of the species.

Taxonomy

Gradungula sorenseni was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1955.

Distribution

Gradungula sorenseni is distributed in forests throughout the western South Island of New Zealand and throughout Stewart Island.

References

  1. 1 2 "Gen. Gradungula Forster, 1955". World Spider Catalog. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  2. ↑ Forster, Ray; Forster, Lyn (1999). Spiders Of New Zealand And Their World Wide Kin. Otago, New Zealand: University of Otago Press. pp. 119–124.
  3. ↑ Forster, R. R. (1955). "A new family of spiders of the sub-order Hypochilomorphae". Pacific Science. 9: 277–285. hdl:10125/12859.
  4. ↑ Forster, R. R., Platnick, N. I. & Gray, M. R. (1987). A review of the spider superfamilies Hypochiloidea and Austrochiloidea (Araneae, Araneomorphae). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 185: 1-116.