Novafroneta gladiatrix explained

Novafroneta gladiatrix is a species of sheet weaver spider endemic to New Zealand.^[1]

Taxonomy

This species was described in 1979 by A.D Blest from male and female specimens. The holotype is stored in Otago Museum.

Description

The male is recorded at 4.33mm in length whereas the female is 4.34mm. This species has a brown cephalothorax and legs. The abdomen is grey with pale markings.

Distribution

This species is known from throughout New Zealand.^[2]

Conservation status

Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System, this species is listed as "Naturally Uncommon" with the qualifier of "Biologically Sparse".^[3]

Notes and References

1. Blest . A.D. . 1979 . The spiders of New Zealand. Part V. Linyphiidae-Mynoglenidae . Otago Museum Bulletin . 5 . 95-173.
2. Blest . A.D. . Vink . C.J. . 2002 . New Zealand spiders: Linyphiidae, Mynogleninae . Records of the Canterbury Museum . 16 . 1-31.
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.