Funnel-web Spiders - Family: Hexathelidae
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Hexathelidae are a family that was elevated to that level in 1980 by R.Raven and expanded during the 1980's only to be cut down again after Hedin et al (2018) brought forth compelling phylogenomic arguments to divide the family into three. Two new families were created, the Atracidae and the Porrhothelidae removing 41 species in 4 genera from the Hexathelidae and thereby leaving with 45 species in 7 genera. The Northern Rivers hosts at least six species friom two genera. As the taxonomic upheaval suggests there is not a lot to tell the spiders from the three families apart and distinguishing between species is not any easier either. As usual, browns and black dominate the colour palette and size ranges from 10 - 50 mm bodylength. A glossy carapace (= in spiders, the hard cover of the cephalothorax), not too hairy, medium-length to long spinnerets, stout body and short, thick legs complete the picture.
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Like the Atracidae, these spiders have powerful chelicera that contain the venom glands and large fangs to deliver the venom with. Some species have a distinct chevron pattern on the upperside of their abdomen and this may be indicative of species for some.
Hexathelids are ancient spiders with the oldest fossils of their ancestors dated at up to 247 My old found in north-eastern France. Nearly 100 My old fossils have also been located in Myanmar in Mid-Cretaceous amber. Both fossil sets are from genera now extinctWith regards to habits and behaviours, not a lot can be said about the Hexathelidae as a group. However, a number of the species within this group were until fairly recently placed in other families so it is not too far fetched to draw conclusions about similarities in habits and behaviours as well as what they eat, when they are most active and mating habits. Take for example, males have two spines on their first legs : cf. Euagridae. |
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In Australia the distribution of the Hexathelids is limited to the Eastern most parts of the country from just north of Bundaberg to Tasmania and none of the fifteen Australian species occur anywhere else. Likewise New Zealand has twenty endemic species and the remaining ten are endemic to Chile in South America. Most species tend to be localised.
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Bymainiella lugubris
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Bymainiella monteithi
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Bymainiella polesoni
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Bymainiella terrareginae
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Paraembolides cannoni (possible occurrence)
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Paraembolides montebossi
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Taxonomy:
Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods)
> Subphylum: Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
> Class: Arachnida (Arachnids)
> Order: Aranea (Spiders)
> Suborder: Mygalomorphae (Mygalomorphs)
> Superfamily: Avicularioidea
> Family: Hexathelidae (Funnel-web Spiders)
> Genus: Bymainiella
> Species: B. lugubris
> Species: B. monteithi
> Species: B. polesoni
> Species: B. terrareginae
> Genus: Paraembolides
> Species: P. cannoni ^
> Species: P. montibossi
* = likely
^ = possibly
References and links:
> Hedin, M., Derkarabetian, S., Ramírez, M.J., Vink, C. and Bond, J.E., (2018). 'Phylogenomic reclassification of the world's most venomous spiders (Mygalomorphae, Atracinae), with implications for venom evolution.' Scientific Reports, 8 (1636): 1636. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-19946-2.
> Selden, P.A. and Gall, J., (1992). 'A Triassic mygalomorph spider from the northern Vosges, France.' Palaeontology 35(1):211-235.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carapace
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=_AVkxzIAAAAJ&hl=en
https://wsc.nmbe.ch/family/40/Hexathelidae
> Hedin, M., Derkarabetian, S., Ramírez, M.J., Vink, C. and Bond, J.E., (2018). 'Phylogenomic reclassification of the world's most venomous spiders (Mygalomorphae, Atracinae), with implications for venom evolution.' Scientific Reports, 8 (1636): 1636. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-19946-2.
> Selden, P.A. and Gall, J., (1992). 'A Triassic mygalomorph spider from the northern Vosges, France.' Palaeontology 35(1):211-235.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carapace
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=_AVkxzIAAAAJ&hl=en
https://wsc.nmbe.ch/family/40/Hexathelidae
Photographic contributions: