Matachia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matachia |
|
|---|---|
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Desidae |
| Genus: | Matachia Dalmas, 1917 |
| Type species | |
| M. ramulicola Dalmas, 1917
|
|
| Species | |
|
5, see text |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
Matachia is a group of small spiders that live in the South Pacific region, especially in New Zealand. These spiders are special because they are known as intertidal spiders. This means they can live in areas where the ocean meets the land, like rocky shores, and are sometimes covered by water when the tide comes in.
A scientist named R. de Dalmas first described these spiders in 1917. At first, they were thought to belong to a different spider family called Psechridae. But in 1970, scientists realized they were actually part of the Desidae family, which includes many intertidal spiders.
Species
As of May 2019, there are five known types, or species, of Matachia spiders. All of these species are found only in New Zealand.
- Matachia australis Forster, 1970 – Found in New Zealand
- Matachia livor (Urquhart, 1893) – Found in New Zealand
- Matachia marplesi Forster, 1970 – Found in New Zealand
- Matachia ramulicola Dalmas, 1917 (type) – This is the original species that helped define the Matachia group. It is found in New Zealand.
- Matachia similis Forster, 1970 – Found in New Zealand
See also
In Spanish: Matachia para niños
