Hexathelidae: Hexathelinae: Plesiothele

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Fig. 1. Plesiothele fentoni, female, dorsal.

Niall Doran

Fig. 2. Plesiothele fentoni, female, ventral view.

Niall Doran

Fig. 3. Distribution map.

Fig. 4. Plesiothele fentoni female, spinnerets showing large outer pair (PMS).

Fig. 5. Plesiothele fentoni spinnerets, showing ALS larger than PMS.

Fig. 6. Plesiothele fentoni, female venter.

Total length

Large (8–30mm) (Figs 1-2).

Distribution

Tasmania (Fig. 3).

Habitat

Temperate rainforest, open eucalyptus forest.

Spinnerets

(Figs 4-5) Six. PLS segments equal in length; apical segment digitiform. ALS larger than PMS.

Cephalothorax

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

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

Chelicerae fangs longitudinal; retromargin without teeth; middle row of teeth distinct; intercheliceral tumescence in male absent; rastellum absent.

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

Labium about as wide as long; cuspules in female few, 10 or less; in broad group.

Sternum (Figs 2, 6) shield-shaped; with three pairs of sigilla.

Legs

Preening combs on metatarsi absent; tarsi with filiform trichobothria.

Claws three; paired claws with one row of teeth centrally; third claw in female bare; tufts absent.

Scopula absent.

Genera included

Plesiothele.