Kauaʻi cave wolf spider

Kauaʻi cave wolf spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Lycosidae
Genus: Adelocosa
Gertsch, 1973
Species: A. anops
Binomial name
Adelocosa anops
Gertsch, 1973 [2]

The Kauaʻi cave wolf spider, scientific name Adelocosa anops, also known to local residents as the "blind spider", is only known to occur in a few caves in a lava flow with an area of 10.5 square kilometres (4.1 sq mi) in the KōloaPoʻipū region of Kauaʻi, Hawaiian Islands, and only six populations are known to exist.[3] While their nearest surface-dwelling relatives have large eyes, this species has completely lost its eyes. They reach a body length of about 20 millimetres (0.8 in), are reddish brown and completely harmless to people.[4] Unlike most wolf spiders, it produces only 15 to 30 eggs per clutch. The female carries the egg sac in her mouthparts until the spiderlings hatch.[3]

One of its primary prey species is the Kauaʻi cave amphipod, Spelaeorchestia koloana, which is only known from nine populations and reaches about 10 mm (0.4 in) in length.[4] These feed on decomposing plant matter. Both species were discovered in 1971. Counts have never documented more than 30 spiders or 80 amphipods.[4]

See also

References

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