Hadronyche eyrei, also known as the Eyre Peninsula funnel-web spider, is a species of funnel-web spider in the Atracidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 1984 by Australian arachnologist Michael R. Gray.[1][2]

Hadronyche eyrei
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Atracidae
Genus: Hadronyche
Species:
H. eyrei
Binomial name
Hadronyche eyrei
(Gray, 1984)[1]
Synonyms
  • Atrax eyrei Gray, 1984

Description

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The carapace is a glossy brownish-black in colour, the back and sides of the abdomen a dark maroon-brown with a paler underside. There are four pairs of pale markings on the upper and lateral surfaces. The venom contains excitatory neurotoxins.[3]

Distribution and habitat

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The species occurs in the southern Eyre Peninsula region of South Australia. The type locality is 6.5 km south of Coulta.[2] The spiders are found in open forest and woodland habitats.[3]

Behaviour

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The spiders construct burrows, without surface triplines, in or beneath leaf litter. The burrows contain a side chamber and have an entrance with a soil door in a collapsible silk collar.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b Gray, MR (1984). "The taxonomy of the Atrax adelaidensis species-group (Macrothelinae: Mygalomorphae) with notes on burrowing behaviour". Records of the South Australian Museum. 18: 441–452 [444]. ISSN 0376-2750. Wikidata Q123531966.
  2. ^ a b "Species Hadronyche eyrei (Gray, 1984)". Australian Faunal Directory. Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia. 2022. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  3. ^ a b c "Hadronyche eyrei". Clinical Toxinology Resources. University of Adelaide. Retrieved 2023-05-07.