Corresponding author: Michael G. Rix (
Academic editor: C. Hamilton
The aganippine shield-backed trapdoor spiders of the monophyletic
Rix MG, Huey JA, Cooper SJB, Austin AD, Harvey MS (2018) Conservation systematics of the shield-backed trapdoor spiders of the
The shield-backed trapdoor spiders of the genus
Shield-backed trapdoor spiders are atypical idiopids for a number of reasons. Among species of
The aims of this study are therefore three-fold. Firstly, using a multi-locus molecular dataset including 14 of the 17 recognised species, the monophyly and phylogeny of the
Specimens are lodged at the
For readability and ease of diagnosis, ‘sp. n.’ epithets are removed from the main text after the illustrated key to species.
Most outgroup sequences were obtained from data previously published by
Gene alignments were conducted in Geneious R6 (Biomatters Ltd.;
Within the
While strong mitochondrial phylogeographic structure is evident among most populations of most species (e.g., a mean of 8.9% intraspecific pairwise divergence for
Conservation considerations are necessarily central to our understanding of the
With morphological, distributional and molecular taxonomic resources now available for the shield-backed trapdoor spiders, we recommend that future conservation management strategies should focus on conducting rigorous surveys for burrow presence or absence, and on developing non-lethal and non-destructive methods for obtaining genetic material from wild animals (for the purposes of species designation and individual genotyping). These data will provide the quantitative foundations required for critical ongoing management, and for future assessment under
Species of
The genus
Shield-backed trapdoor spiders are usually dark brown to black in life (Figs
NB. While females of
1 | Males (17 of 17 known species) |
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– | Females (13 of 17 known species) |
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2 | Prolateral tibia I (Ti1) with clasping spurs (CS) oriented dorso-ventrally (2.1) |
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– | Prolateral tibia I with clasping spurs oriented longitudinally or nearly so (2.2, 2.3) |
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3 | SP3 sclerites only marginally larger than SP2 sclerites (3.1); SP4 unsclerotised or only barely sclerotised (3.1) |
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– | SP3 sclerites significantly larger than SP2 sclerites (3.2, 3.3); SP4 sclerites enlarged and sclerotised (3.2, 3.3) |
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4 | Embolus (E) sharply tapering distally, with prominent longitudinal flange (F) (4.1) |
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– | Embolus without prominent flange, gradually tapering distally (4.2) |
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5 | Legs bi-coloured, with strongly contrasting bright yellow or orange-yellow femora (Fe) (5.1, 5.2) |
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– | Legs without strongly contrasting yellow femora (5.3) (NB. femora usually still relatively pale compared to other leg segments) |
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6 | SP3 sclerites relatively small; SP4 with weakly sclerotised spots (6.1) |
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– | SP3 sclerites larger; SP4 with two relatively large sclerites (6.2) |
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7 | SP4 with two long, elongate-oval (longitudinal) sclerites (7.1) |
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– | SP4 shorter, with two circular, broadly oval or subquadrate sclerites (7.2, 7.3) |
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8 | Abdomen with distinctive SP2, each sclerite usually surrounded by contrasting pad of unsclerotised cuticle (P) (8.1, 8.2); SP4 each with long, transverse pad of unsclerotised cuticle (TP) extending laterally in chevron-like fashion (8.1, 8.2); abdomen without well-defined lateral sclerotic strips (8.1, 8.2) |
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– | SP2 poorly demarcated relative to surrounding abdomen (8.3); SP4 relatively large and well sclerotised, without long chevron-like pad of unsclerotised cuticle laterally (8.3); abdomen with well-defined lateral sclerotic strips (SS) (8.3) |
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9 | Abdomen with well-defined dorso-lateral corrugations (LC) and striations (9.1) |
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– | Abdomen without such well-defined dorso-lateral corrugations or striations (9.2) |
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10 | SP3 sclerites relatively small, usually separated by approximately equal to, or more than, their own diameter (10.1); SP4 sclerites relatively small (10.1) |
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– | SP3 sclerites larger, separated by less than their own diameter (10.2); SP4 sclerites larger (10.2) |
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11 | Leg I tibia (Ti1) short and stout, with prolateral clasping spurs (CS) occupying most of distal half of segment (11.1); abdomen with ornate, bi-coloured pattern dorsally and postero-dorsally [NB. depending upon state of preservation] (11.2) |
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– | Leg I tibia longer, with prolateral clasping spurs occupying distal third of segment (11.3); abdomen more uniformly coloured dorsally (11.4) |
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12 | SP3 each with unsclerotised, antero-laterally directed triangular ‘corner’ (TC) laterally (12.1, 12.2); SP4 sclerites relatively large (12.1, 12.2) |
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– | Triangular ‘corners’ of SP3, if present, laterally or postero-laterally directed (12.3); SP4 sclerites relatively small (12.3) |
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13 | SP4 each with distinctive, semi-circular lateral indentation (LI) adjacent to sclerite (13.1) |
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– | SP4 without semi-circular lateral indentations (13.2, 13.3) |
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14 | Embolus (E) with prominent sub-distal embolic apophysis (EA) (14.1) |
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– | Embolic apophysis absent or nearly so (14.2, 14.3) |
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15 | Dorsal abdomen largely asetose (15.1); SP4 with two large subquadrate sclerites (15.2) |
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– | Dorsal abdomen with longitudinal rows of stiff, porrect black setae (15.3); SP4 with two circular or oval sclerites (15.4) | |
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16 | Metatarsus I (Me1) heavily setose (16.1) |
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– | Metatarsus I setose, but not as heavily so (16.2) |
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17 | Abdomen with strongly corrugate morphology, bearing reinforced, sclerotised ridges dorsally and laterally (17.1, 17.2) |
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– | Abdominal cuticle largely unmodified, without reinforced, sclerotised ridges (but with minor corrugations normally still present) (17.3) |
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18 | Eye group compact, |
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– | Eye group broadly trapezoidal, |
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19 | Reinforced, sclerotised ridges on abdomen separated by longitudinal rows of less sclerotised cuticle (19.1, 19.2); SP2 sclerites defined and visible (19.1, 19.2) |
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– | Entire posterior abdomen heavily sclerotised and strongly sigillate, with thickened, leathery (and usually moderately truncate) ‘shield-like’ morphology (19.3); SP2 sclerites obscured (19.3) |
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20 | SP3 sclerites relatively large (20.1); sclerotised ridges on abdomen well developed (20.1) |
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– | SP3 sclerites smaller (20.2); sclerotised ridges on abdomen less well developed, but only marginally so (20.2) |
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21 | SP4 with two long, elongate-oval (longitudinal) sclerites (21.1) [NB. sigilla sclerites artificially highlighted] |
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– | SP4 shorter, with two circular, oval or subquadrate sclerites (21.2, 21.3) |
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22 | SP4 sclerites approximately half the size of SP3 sclerites |
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– | SP4 sclerites larger, > 0.5 × the size of SP3 sclerites (22.3) |
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23 | SP4 with two large subquadrate sclerites (23.1) [NB. sigilla sclerites artificially highlighted]; posterior abdomen (anterior to spinnerets) heavily sclerotised, obscuring SP5 (23.1) |
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– | SP4 with two circular or broadly oval sclerites (23.2, 23.3); posterior abdomen (anterior to spinnerets) less sclerotised, with defined SP5 sclerites visible (23.2, 23.3) | |
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24 | Abdominal sigilla relatively small, SP4 sclerites not significantly larger than SP2 sclerites (24.1, 24.2) |
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– | Abdominal sigilla larger, SP4 sclerites significantly larger than SP2 sclerites (24.3) |
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25 | SP3 and SP4 sclerites relatively small (25.1) |
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– | SP3 and SP4 sclerites larger, but only marginally so (25.2) |
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26 | Abdomen with ornate, bi-coloured pattern dorsally and postero-dorsally [NB. depending upon state of preservation] (26.1) |
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– | Abdomen more uniformly coloured dorsally (26.2); SP4 sclerites larger, but only marginally so |
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Holotype female. Wongan Hills (IBRA_AVW), Western Australia, Australia,
Paratype. 1 ♀, same data as holotype except 20 June 1952 (
Females can be distinguished from those of
This species can also be distinguished from
Total length 16.1. Carapace 7.0 long, 4.8 wide. Abdomen 7.3 long, 4.4 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Total length 19.6. Carapace 8.3 long, 6.6 wide. Abdomen 8.8 long, 10.2 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Holotype male. Zuytdorp, site ZU1 (IBRA_GES), Western Australia, Australia,
Paratype. 1 ♂, same data as holotype (
The specific epithet is derived from the Latin
This species can also be distinguished from
Total length 19.7. Carapace 8.0 long, 5.6 wide. Abdomen 8.4 long, 6.4 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Total length 24.8. Carapace 10.9 long, 8.1 wide. Abdomen 11.6 long, 10.8 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Holotype male. Albion Downs, 70.1 km NNW. of Leinster (IBRA_MUR), Western Australia, Australia,
Paratype. 1 ♂, same data as holotype (
The specific epithet is derived from the Latin
Females can be distinguished from those of
This species can also be distinguished from
Total length 17.3. Carapace 7.4 long, 5.3 wide. Abdomen 8.2 long, 4.9 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Total length 21.8. Carapace 8.3 long, 5.7 wide. Abdomen 9.9 long, 9.6 wide. Carapace (Fig.
In 2017,
Holotype male. Eyre Peninsula, 54 miles SW. of Kimba (IBRA_EYB), South Australia, Australia, ca.
Paratypes. 1 ♀, same data as holotype (
The specific epithet is derived from the Latin
Males and females of
Total length 13.7. Carapace 5.5 long, 4.3 wide. Abdomen 6.7 long, 4.5 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Total length 17.0. Carapace 6.4 long, 4.8 wide. Abdomen 8.2 long, 7.9 wide. Carapace (Fig.
The highly disjunct distribution of
Due to the known occurrence of this species at only one (or possibly two; see above) sites, we consider it data deficient for the purposes of conservation assessment. However, the absence of recent records (despite extensive collections from the area), the scale of land clearing on the Eyre Peninsula, and the population declines that have occurred among
Holotype male. 12.2 miles S. of Moora on Mogumber Road (IBRA_JAF), Western Australia, Australia,
Paratypes. 1 ♂, same data as holotype (
The specific epithet is a noun in apposition, in reference to the occurrence of this species on the Dandaragan Plateau, north of Perth.
Females can be distinguished from those of
This species can also be distinguished from
Total length 17.5. Carapace 8.0 long, 5.7 wide. Abdomen 8.0 long, 5.6 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Total length 18.6. Carapace 7.5 long, 5.3 wide. Abdomen 8.6 long, 8.3 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Holotype male. Mount Gibson Station, 93 km NE. of Wubin (IBRA_YAL), Western Australia, Australia,
Paratypes. 1 ♀, 25 juveniles, Mummaloo, ca. 75 km NE. of Wubin (IBRA_AVW), Western Australia, Australia,
The specific epithet is derived from the Latin
Females can be distinguished from those of
This species can also be distinguished from
Total length 18.1. Carapace 7.8 long, 5.9 wide. Abdomen 8.2 long, 5.6 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Total length 24.3. Carapace 9.6 long, 9.8 wide. Abdomen 10.7 long, 9.8 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Although first collected by Barbara Main at Dajoing Rock in the mid-1980s, and subsequently collected during the ‘Salinity Action Plan Survey’ of the late 1990s (
In 2017,
Holotype male. Mount Lesueur [Lesueur National Park] (IBRA_GES), Western Australia, Australia,
The specific epithet is named in honour of the late Charles Gardner (1896–1970), former curator of the Western Australian Herbarium, whose conservation efforts were instrumental in protecting the Lesueur National Park for posterity.
Total length 19.2. Carapace 8.1 long, 6.2 wide. Abdomen 8.4 long, 5.5 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Due to the known occurrence of this species at only a single site, in an area with a relatively large amount of high quality and poorly surveyed heathland habitat, we consider it data deficient for the purposes of conservation assessment.
Holotype male. Gutha (IBRA_AVW), Western Australia, Australia,
The specific epithet is a noun in apposition derived from a contraction of ‘Gutha’ and ‘Pintharuka’, in reference to the region where this species has been found.
Total length 19.4. Carapace 8.6 long, 6.6 wide. Abdomen 8.1 long, 5.6 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Holotype male. Carnarvon, Police and Citizens Youth Centre (IBRA_CAR), Western Australia, Australia,
The specific epithet is derived from the Latin
Total length 18.7. Carapace 9.3 long, 7.0 wide. Abdomen 7.6 long, 5.8 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Holotype male. Bodallin (IBRA_AVW), Western Australia, Australia,
The specific epithet is derived from the Latin
Females can be distinguished from those of
This species can also be distinguished from
Total length 19.8. Carapace 9.7 long, 7.3 wide. Abdomen 8.2 long, 5.4 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Total length 25.0. Carapace 10.5 long, 7.3 wide. Abdomen 11.6 long, 8.9 wide. Carapace (Fig.
In 2017,
Holotype male. Lesmurdie, 42 Wheelwright Road (IBRA_JAF), Western Australia, Australia,
Paratype. 1 ♀, Lesmurdie, Armour Way (IBRA_JAF), Western Australia, Australia,
The specific epithet is a noun in apposition, in reference to the Jarrah Forest bioregion in which this species occurs.
Females can be distinguished from those of
This species can also be distinguished from
Total length 18.7. Carapace 8.3 long, 6.5 wide. Abdomen 8.3 long, 5.4 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Total length 31.2. Carapace 12.7 long, 8.9 wide. Abdomen 14.6 long, 13.5 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Holotype male. Snake Gully Nature Reserve, site WU11 (IBRA_AVW), Western Australia, Australia,
Paratypes. 1 ♂, same data as holotype (
The specific epithet is named in honour of Paul and Karen Kopejtka, in recognition of their generous support for the Western Australian Museum Foundation.
Females can be distinguished from those of
This species can also be distinguished from
Total length 14.1. Carapace 5.9 long, 4.4 wide. Abdomen 7.2 long, 5.6 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Total length 25.4. Carapace 9.1 long, 6.6 wide. Abdomen 12.4 long, 11.7 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Although first collected by Barbara Main near Mount Gibson in the 1950s, and subsequently collected from a handful of nature reserves during the ‘Salinity Action Plan Survey’ of the late 1990s (
In 2017,
Holotype male. 10 km E. of Green Head (IBRA_GES), Western Australia, Australia,
The specific epithet is a noun in apposition, in reference to the distribution of this species in the ‘kwongan’
Total length 18.1. Carapace 7.9 long, 6.0 wide. Abdomen 8.6 long, 5.5 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Holotype male. Julimar Conservation Park, Heine Road, site JB10 (IBRA_JAF), Western Australia, Australia,
Paratypes. 1 ♂, same data as holotype (
The specific epithet is named in honour of James and Meredith McClements, in recognition of their generous support for the Western Australian Museum Foundation.
Females can be distinguished from those of
This species can also be distinguished from
Total length 21.2. Carapace 9.9 long, 7.7 wide. Abdomen 9.1 long, 6.6 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Total length 22.4. Carapace 10.0 long, 7.3 wide. Abdomen 9.6 long, 9.3 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Holotype male. Trayning (IBRA_AVW), Western Australia, Australia,
The specific epithet is a named in honour of the late Keiran McNamara (1954–2013), in recognition of his considerable efforts in securing critical funding for the Salinity Action Plan Survey (later ‘State Salinity Strategy’) of the Western Australian agricultural zone (run by the then Department of Conservation and Land Management from 1997–2000), which resulted in the collection of this and numerous other species of
Females can be distinguished from those of
This species can also be distinguished from
Total length 18.4. Carapace 8.3 long, 6.0 wide. Abdomen 7.2 long, 4.1 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Total length 26.0. Carapace 10.8 long, 7.4 wide. Abdomen 10.6 long, 10.9 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Holotype male. Beverley (IBRA_AVW), Western Australia, Australia,
The specific epithet is named in honour of Daniel and Noel Schoknecht, for collecting an important (and sequenceable) female specimen of this species on their property SW. of York.
Females can be distinguished from those of
This species can also be distinguished from
Total length 20.6. Carapace 8.6 long, 6.4 wide. Abdomen 9.3 long, 6.7 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Total length 25.8. Carapace 10.4 long, 7.5 wide. Abdomen 12.2 long, 12.1 wide. Carapace (Fig.
This species is very similar to
Holotype male. Swan River [Perth] (IBRA_SWA), Western Australia, Australia (
Holotype female. Victoria Park [Perth] (IBRA_SWA), Western Australia, Australia, 10 August 1929, L.W. Gibbs (
Females can be distinguished from those of
This species can also be distinguished from
Total length 18.8. Carapace 8.5 long, 6.3 wide. Abdomen 8.5 long, 5.0 wide. Carapace (Fig.
Total length 30.7. Carapace 12.6 long, 9.3 wide. Abdomen 14.3 long, 14.5 wide. Carapace (Fig.
In 2017,
A single female specimen in the
This work is dedicated to Barbara Main, for her pioneering research on the shield-backed trapdoor spiders of Western Australia for more than 60 years. We would like especially to thank Julianne Waldock (
Live habitus images of shield-backed trapdoor spiders of the
Burrows of shield-backed trapdoor spiders of the
Tamura-Nei neighbour-joining tree of the
Graph summarising phenology data for 113 male specimens of
Map showing collection records of
Map showing collection records of non-‘sigillate complex’
Map showing collection records of
Map showing collection records of
Atlas of morphology
Data type: Images
Explanation note: Atlas of morphology for shield-backed trapdoor spiders of the
GenBank data
Data type: Table
Explanation note: Spreadsheet of specimens sequenced for the molecular analyses, with associated collection data and GenBank accession numbers.
Data type: Multiple sequence alignment
Explanation note: Nexus file of the aligned
FULL dataset
Data type: Multiple sequence alignment
Explanation note: Nexus file of the aligned FULL dataset for 82 taxa.
Data type: Table
Explanation note: Spreadsheet with matrix of