Dunstanoides facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunstanoides |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Desidae |
| Genus: | Dunstanoides Forster & Wilton, 1989 |
| Type species | |
| D. hesperis (Forster & Wilton, 1973)
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| Species | |
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9, see text |
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Dunstanoides is a group of spiders, known as a genus, that live in the South Pacific region. These spiders are special because they are intertidal, meaning they live in the area between high and low tide marks. They were first described by a scientist named Norman I. Platnick in 1989.
What are Dunstanoides Spiders?
Dunstanoides spiders belong to a family called Desidae. They are often found in coastal areas, especially in places where the land meets the sea. Being "intertidal" means they have adapted to live in a challenging environment. This area is sometimes covered by water during high tide and exposed to air during low tide. These spiders have special ways to survive these changes, like hiding in cracks or under rocks.
Where Do They Live?
All known species of Dunstanoides spiders are found only in New Zealand. This makes them endemic to New Zealand, meaning they naturally live nowhere else in the world. New Zealand's unique coastal environments provide the perfect home for these fascinating creatures.
Species of Dunstanoides
As of April 2019, there are nine different known species within the Dunstanoides genus. All of them are found in New Zealand. Each species has its own unique features, but they all share the common characteristics of Dunstanoides spiders.
- Dunstanoides angustiae (Marples, 1959) – New Zealand
- Dunstanoides hesperis (Forster & Wilton, 1973) – New Zealand
- Dunstanoides hinawa (Forster & Wilton, 1973) – New Zealand
- Dunstanoides hova (Forster & Wilton, 1973) – New Zealand
- Dunstanoides kochi (Forster & Wilton, 1973) – New Zealand
- Dunstanoides mira (Forster & Wilton, 1973) – New Zealand
- Dunstanoides montana (Forster & Wilton, 1973) – New Zealand
- Dunstanoides nuntia (Marples, 1959) – New Zealand
- Dunstanoides salmoni (Forster & Wilton, 1973) – New Zealand
See also
- In Spanish: Dunstanoides para niños
