Hickmania

Tasmanian cave spider
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Gradungulidae
Genus: Hickmania
Gertsch, 1958[1]
Species:
H. troglodytes
Binomial name
Hickmania troglodytes
(Higgins & Petterd, 1883)[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Theridion troglodytes Higgins & Petterd, 1883
  • Ectatostica troglodytes (Higgins & Petterd, 1883)
  • Ectatosticta australis Simon, 1902

Hickmania is a monotypic genus of Australian cribellate araneomorph spiders in the family Gradungulidae, containing only the Tasmanian cave spider (Hickmania troglodytes).[1] The genus was first described by Willis J. Gertsch in 1958,[2] and has been found only in Tasmania. It is the last of an old Gondwanan lineage, long since separated from its closest relatives in South America.[3] It is an icon species for faunal conservation in Tasmania, and is named in honor of V. V. Hickman, a professor at the University of Tasmania, who specialized in spiders. The species name is derived from the Ancient Greek τρωγλοδύτης (troglodytes), meaning "cave-dweller".

  1. ^ a b c d "Gen. Hickmania Gertsch, 1958". World Spider Catalog Version 20.0. Natural History Museum Bern. 2019. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2019-05-16.
  2. ^ Gertsch, W. J. (1958). "The spider family Hypochilidae". American Museum Novitates. 1912: 1–28.
  3. ^ Gray, Dr. Mike (2019-03-18). "Tasmanian Cave Spider". Australian Museum. Retrieved 2019-05-16.