Kauaʻi cave wolf spider

Kauaʻi cave wolf spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Arthropoda
Subphylum:Chelicerata
Class:Arachnida
Order:Araneae
Infraorder:Araneomorphae
Family:Lycosidae
Genus:Adelocosa
Gertsch, 1973
Species: A. anops
Binomial name
Adelocosa anops
Gertsch, 1973 [2]

The Kauaʻi cave wolf spider (Adelocosa anops, the only species in the genus Adelocosa), also known to local residents as the "blind spider", is only known to occur in a few caves in a lava flow with an area of 10.5 km2 (4.1 sq mi) in the Kōloa–Poʻipū region of Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands, and only six populations are known to exist.[3] While their nearest surface-dwelling relatives have large eyes, this species has completely lost its eyes. They reach a body length around 20 mm (0.8 in), and are reddish brown and completely harmless to people.[4] Unlike most wolf spiders, it produces only 15 to 30 eggs per clutch. The female carries the egg sac in her mouthparts until the spiderlings hatch.[3]

One of its primary prey species is the Kauaʻi cave amphipod, Spelaeorchestia koloana, which is only known from nine populations and reaches about 10 mm (0.4 in) in length.[4] These feed on decomposing plant matter. Both species were discovered in 1971. Counts have never documented more than 30 spiders or 80 amphipods.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1996). "Adelocosa anops". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 1996: e.T513A13058776. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T513A13058776.en. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  2. ↑ Norman I. Platnick (2010). "Lycosidae". World Spider Catalog, Version 10.5. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved March 17, 2010.
  3. 1 2 "Endangered Species in the Pacific Islands. Kaua'i Cave Arthropods". United States Fish and Wildlife Service. January 6, 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 "Hawaii's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (2005): Kaua'i Cave Arthropods" (PDF). October 1, 2005.
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