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Trichocyclus nigropunctatus Simon, 1908 Cellar Spider

Trichocyclus is the dominant or only pholcid genus in most areas of Western and South Australia and the Northern Territory. Trichocyclus nigropunctatus is restricted to the central coast and hinterland of Western Australia. Trichocyclus is related to several genera that together have a worldwide distribution, more so than other Australian Pholcid genera. (Huber 2001). The penultimate male specimen in the Zoological Museum Hamburg was identified by Simon as T. nigropunctatus, and is therefore a paralectotype, as it was cited by the author of a name of a species when no single specimen was selected as the holotype. There is a female holotype from Yalgoo, Western Australia. (Deeleman-Reinhold 1993)

Female adult from above


This specimen was found at Hamelin Pool Marine Nature Reserve in the Shark Bay World Heritage Site of Western Australia about 30 kilometres west of the Overlander Roadhouse on the North West Coastal Highway. The Marine Reserve covers 1,270 square kilometres. It is one of only a few places in the world where living marine stromatolites can be found.

Trichocyclus nigropunctatus
Photo: Ed Nieuwenhuys

Female adult with food parcel wrapped


Trichocyclus nigropunctatus
Photo: Ed Nieuwenhuys

 

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