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Hapona facts for kids

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Hapona
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Toxopidae
Genus: Hapona
Forster, 1970
Type species
H. otagoa
(Forster, 1964)
Species

13, see text

Hapona is a group of small spiders found only in the South Pacific region. These spiders belong to a larger family called Toxopidae. A scientist named Raymond Robert Forster first described this group in 1970.

At first, Hapona spiders were thought to be part of the Desidae family, which includes spiders that live near water. However, after more research, scientists moved them to the Toxopidae family in 2017. This means they are now grouped with other spiders that share similar features.

Meet the Hapona Spiders

Hapona spiders are known as araneomorph spiders. This is a big group that includes most of the spiders you see. They have fangs that move towards each other like pincers, which helps them catch their prey.

Where Hapona Spiders Live

All the known Hapona species live only in New Zealand. This makes them endemic to New Zealand, meaning they are not found naturally anywhere else in the world. They are a special part of New Zealand's unique wildlife.

Different Kinds of Hapona Spiders

As of May 2019, there are thirteen different types, or species, of Hapona spiders. Each species has its own scientific name, usually given by the scientist who first found and described it.

  • Hapona amira Forster, 1970 – Found in New Zealand
  • Hapona aucklandensis (Forster, 1964) – Found in New Zealand
  • Hapona crypta (Forster, 1964) – Found in New Zealand
  • Hapona insula (Forster, 1964) – Found in New Zealand
  • Hapona marplesi (Forster, 1964) – Found in New Zealand
  • Hapona moana Forster, 1970 – Found in New Zealand
  • Hapona momona Forster, 1970 – Found in New Zealand
  • Hapona muscicola (Forster, 1964) – Found in New Zealand
  • Hapona otagoa (Forster, 1964) (type) – Found in New Zealand
  • Hapona paihia Forster, 1970 – Found in New Zealand
  • Hapona reinga Forster, 1970 – Found in New Zealand
  • Hapona salmoni (Forster, 1964) – Found in New Zealand
  • Hapona tararua Forster, 1970 – Found in New Zealand

The type species for the Hapona group is Hapona otagoa. This means it's the main species that helps define the whole group.

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