Teyl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Teyl |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Anamidae |
| Genus: | Teyl Main, 1975 |
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Teyl is a group of spiders found only in Australia. These spiders belong to a family called Anamidae. Right now, scientists know about four different kinds (species) of Teyl spiders. There are also many more types that haven't been officially named yet! The most well-known type is called T. luculentus.
Contents
About Teyl Spiders
Teyl spiders are quite small. Their bodies, specifically the hard shell on their back called a carapace, can be anywhere from 2 to 10 millimeters long. That's about the size of a small bead or a pea!
Types of Teyl Spiders
Scientists have officially named four different species of Teyl spiders so far:
- Teyl harveyi Main, 2004 — Found in Victoria
- Teyl luculentus Main, 1975 — Found in Western Australia
- Teyl walkeri Main, 2004 — Found in Victoria
- Teyl yeni Main, 2004 — Found in Victoria
Where Teyl Spiders Live
These spiders live in different parts of southern Australia. You can find them in the southwest, on the Eyre Peninsula, and in western Victoria.
Scientists think their homes became separated a long time ago. This happened during the Cretaceous period when a large part of central Australia was covered by water. The different groups of Teyl spiders then lived in isolated areas. These areas kept conditions similar to how they were when the supercontinent Gondwana existed.
How Teyl Spiders Got Their Names
The name Teyl comes from an Australian Aboriginal word. It means "a brightly colored stone." This name was chosen because of the spider's shiny, bright skin.
The specific name luculentus for the most common type means "shining yellowish color." This describes its appearance.
Other Teyl spiders are named after people who helped study them:
- T. harveyi is named after Mark S. Harvey.
- T. walkeri is named after Ken Walker.
- T. yeni is named after Alan Yen.
See also
In Spanish: Teyl para niños
