Mouse Spider Missulena rutraspina Faulder, 1995
Fauna Portal species: 7642
Missulenarutraspina male, dorsal (WAM T149409)
Image: V. Cruz Bedon (2021)
Fauna Portal Image No. 2115Diagnosis
Missulena rutraspina is a small Mouse Spider with a uniformly dark brown to black colouration of the carapace. Faulder (1995) diagnosed the species based on the unique rastellar spines: few in numbers (generally three) and widely spaced. The species is here diagnosed based on this character although there a variations in pedipalp morphology (see images above).
Faulder (1995) included two males from the Pilbara region (Woodstock Station) in the original description of M. rutraspina, but the holotype was found in north-western Victoria. Considering the current wide and disjunct distribution of M. rutraspina and in light of the narrow distribution ranges of other species, it is possible that the Pilbara populations represent a different species pending molecular studies on the complex.
Linnean Holotype
Australia
- South Australia
- Victoria
- Western Australia
Fauna Portal Records
The map shows all records that have been verified as part of the Fauna Portal project and may not represent the true distribution of a species. Specifically, for described species, check the link to the Atlas of Living Australia on this page for potential wider distributions. Fauna Portal Reference specimens and Linnean types are shown in red. If you identified a specimen that exceeds the distribution of an undescribed species as illustrated here, please contact the Fauna Portal team who can assist with the lodgement of the specimen in a public institution and display on the map.
Similar Species
Publications
(1995): Two new species of the Australian spider genus Missulena Walckenaer (Araneae: Actinopodidae). Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement. 52: 73 - 78
(2021): Three new species of mouse spider (Araneae: Actinopodidae: Missulena Walckenaer, 1805) from Western Australia, including an assessment of intra specific variability in a widespread species from the arid biome. Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny. 79: 509 - 533