Colaranea Explained

Colaranea is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by D. J. Court & Raymond Robert Forster in 1988 that are endemic to New Zealand.^[1]

Description

Colaranea have variable colouration, but are typically brown, red, yellow and especially green.

Distribution

Colaranea are widespread throughout the North Island and South Island of New Zealand.

Species

it contains four species, all found in New Zealand:^[2]

• Colaranea brunnea Court & Forster, 1988 – New Zealand
• Colaranea melanoviridis Court & Forster, 1988 – New Zealand
• Colaranea verutum (Urquhart, 1887) – New Zealand
• Colaranea viriditas (Urquhart, 1887) – New Zealand

Notes and References

1. Court . D. J. . Forster . R. R. . 1988 . The spiders of New Zealand: Part VI. Family Araneidae. . Otago Museum Bulletin . 6 . 68–124.
2. Web site: Gen. Colaranea Court & Forster, 1988. World Spider Catalog. 2019-05-13. Natural History Museum Bern.