Name
Macrothele
cork tree spiders, Spanish funnel-web spider
Framing
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Suborder: Theraphosomorpha
Genus: Macrothele
Habitat
Terrestrial, epigeal
Feeding
Carnivore (epigean arthropods)
Distribution
The genus Macrothele is distributed throughout southern Europe, Asia and Africa. The species M. calpeiana has a distribution restricted to three populations in the south of the Iberian Peninsula, although there are some unconfirmed records in North Africa (Algeria and Ceuta). Citations in other areas of Spain and Europe are due to accidental introductions.
Conservation status
Macrothele calpeiana is the only spider legally protected by Spanish law, and is included in the National Catalog of Protected Species and in the Habitats Directive. It appears as a species with a category of "Vulnerable" (VU) in the Atlas and Red Book of Endangered Invertebrates of Spain and in the Red Book of Invertebrates of Andalusia.
Additional information
Black spider with orthognathous chelicerae (the nail of the chelicerae is articulated following a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body). Two pairs of rows, those of the posterior pair being very long, protruding widely behind the opisthosoma.
Additional information
Bibliography
- Arnedo, M. & Ferrández, M.A. (2007). Mitochondrial markers reveal deep population subdivision in the European protected spider Macrothele calpeiana (Walckenaer, 1805) (Araneae, Hexathelidae). Conservation Genetics, 8, 1147-1162. DOI: 10.1007/s10592-006-9270-2
- Arnedo, M. & Bellvert, A.2016. Threatened or threatening? Evidence for independen introductions of Macrothele calpeiana (Araneae: Hexathelidae) and first observation of reproduction outside its natural distribution range. Arachnology, 17, 137-141. DOI: 10.13156/arac.2006.17.3.137
- Ferrández, M.A. (2011). Macrothele calpeiana (Walckenaer, 1805). En Atlas y Libro Rojo de los Invertebrados amenazados de España (Especies Vulnerables). Volumen I: Artrópodos (pp 71-80). Verdú, J.R., Numa, C. & Galante, E. (Eds). Dirección General de Medio Natural y Política Forestal, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Medio rural y Marino, Madrid. Accesible en: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/biodiversidad/temas/inventarios-nacionales/Macrothele_calpeiana_tcm30-198305.pdf
- Ferrández, M.A., Barea-Azcón, J.M. & Ballesteros-Duperón, E. 2008. Macrothele calpeiana (Walckenaer, 1805). En Libro Rojo de los Invertebrados de Andalucía. Vol. 2 (pp. 661-666). Barea, J.M., Ballesteros, E. & Moreno, D. (Eds.). Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucía, Sevilla. Accesible en: http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente/site/portalweb/menuitem.7e1cf46ddf59bb227a9ebe205510e1ca/?vgnextoid=0d8e968e15636310VgnVCM1000001325e50aRCRD&vgnextchannel=4b2fa7aaaf4f4310VgnVCM2000000624e50aRCRD
- Jones, D. (2004). Guía de campo de los arácnidos de España y de Europa. Omega, Barcelona.