Hexathelidae: Hexathelinae

Click/tap on images to enlarge

Fig. 1. Teranodes montana, female.

Fig. 2. Adult male Paraembolides cannoni.

Fig. 3. Distribution map.

Fig. 4. Hexathelidae spinnerets.

Fig. 5. Bymainiella lugubris prolateral surface of a male chelicera; note lack of intercheliceral tumescence.

Fig. 6. Bymainiella sp. ventral aspect of chelicerae; note rastellum absent.

Fig. 7. Bymainiella lugubris lateral aspect of tarsus showing three claws.

Fig. 8. Bymainiella lugubris leg I without scopula.

Total length

Medium to large (4–30mm) (Figs 1-2).

Distribution

Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory (Fig. 3).

Habitat

Temperate rainforest, open eucalyptus forest.

Spinnerets

(Fig. 4) Six. PLS segments equal in length; apical segment digitiform. ALS smaller than PMS

Cephalothorax

Caput of females gently raised, higher than thoracic portion; fovea of females more or less straight.

Eyes eight; group tiny, about 0.3 of headwidth; two rows; rows equal in width; on tubercle.

Chelicerae (Figs 5-6) fangs longitudinal; retromargin with three or more teeth; middle row of teeth distinct; intercheliceral tumescence in male absent; rastellum absent.

Maxillae anterior lobe small, indistinct; serrula a wide band; cuspules in female numerous, dense, clustered at anterior inner corner.

Labium wider than long; cuspules few or numerous, dense; in broad group.

Sternum with three pairs of sigilla.

Legs

Preening combs on metatarsi absent; tarsi with filiform trichobothria.

Claws (Fig. 7) three; paired claws with one row of teeth centrally; third claw dentate; tufts absent.

Scopula absent (Fig. 8).

Male Palp

Cymbium aspinose and ascopulate. Bulb pyriform with or without apophyses. Tibial apophysis absent or retroventral.

Genera included

Bymainiella, Paraembolides, Teranodes.