Nīhoa trapdoor spider

The Nīhoa trapdoor spider is a species of trapdoor spider in the family of Barychelidae that occurs on the island of Nīhoa, Hawaii in the northwestern area of the Hawaiian island chain. Its scientific name can be broken up into two parts, Nihoa which is not only its place of origin but the name of its genus, and mahina, which means 'moon' in the Hawaiian language. This could tie back to the fact that the species was discovered not only in the moonlight but also has fine silver hair, resembling its namesake. The species can also be distinguished by a pattern found on its dorsal and the absence of a second row of teeth. Burrows of trapdoor spiders can commonly be found by mangrove roots or near loose coral rubble. Before the 1980s, trapdoor spiders were not thought to exist in Hawaii. Upon their discovery, the genus was given the name Nihoa, because it was assumed not to exist elsewhere.

Taxonomy and classifications

Nihoa mahina is an arachnids belonging to the subphylum Chelicerata and the family Barychelidae. Eventually, over 23 species across the Pacific were found throughout the southwestern Pacific. The species' conservation status has also been accepted by the science community as a vulnerable species. == Description and anatomy ==

Description and anatomy

The spider itself is a species of intertidal trapdoor spider. The species was discovered in moonlight but also has fine silver hair. Its furrow promargin has eight thick teeth and three smaller teeth which act as a multi-purpose tool for spiders within the Chelicerata subphylum. Nīhoa trapdoor spiders can be distinguished by their wider sternum, the medially located teeth paired claws of the males, and the absence of a second row of teeth on the claws of the females. Females also carry a dissimilarity to their vulva which is crucial to the identification of the species. == Distribution and habitat ==

Distribution and habitat

This species is endemic to the island of Nīhoa, Hawaii. They inhabit the area of the coastline that is exposed during low tide and submerged during high tide, and are commonly found by mangrove roots or near loose coral rubble. ==References==

Source: Wikipedia ↗

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