Colaranea viriditas explained

Colaranea viriditas is a species of orb-weaver spider that is endemic to New Zealand.^[1]

Taxonomy

This species was described as Epeira viriditas in 1887 by Arthur Urquhart from a female specimen collected in Te Karaka.^[2] It was most recently revised in 1988, in which it was moved to the Colaranea genus. The holotype is stored in Canterbury Museum.

Description

The female is recorded at 5.7mm in length whereas the male is 5.2mm. This species has a dark to yellowish brown carapace and legs. The majority of the abdomen is bright green dorsally. The rest of the abdomen is brown.

Distribution

This species is endemic and widespread throughout New Zealand, including the Chatham Islands.

Conservation status

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as "Not Threatened".^[3]

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. Urquhart . A.T. . 1887 . On new species of Araneida . Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute . 19 . 72-118.
3. Sirvid . P. J. . Vink . C. J. . Fitzgerald . B. M. . Wakelin . M. D. . Rolfe . J. . Michel . P. . 2020-01-01 . Conservation status of New Zealand Araneae (spiders), 2020 . New Zealand Threat Classification Series . English . 34 . 1–37.