Nihoa Trapdoor Spider

The spider itself is a species of intertidal trapdoor spider. The species was discovered in moonlight but also has fine silver hair. Its furrow promargin has eight thick teeth and three smaller teeth which act as a multi-purpose tool for spiders within the Chelicerata subphylum. These spiders are hunters that dig a hole near rocks and cover it with a concealed trapdoor. These burrows are excavated completely with the spider's jaw. When prey approaches or falls in, the spider pounces on it. Then its abnormally large pedipalps are used to take food into the mouth. Nīhoa trapdoor spiders can be distinguished by their wider sternum, the medially located teeth paired claws of the males, and the absence of a second row of teeth on the claws of the females. Male Nīhoa trapdoor spiders grow to almost 15 mm (0.59 in) long, including their chelicerae. The females are larger, reaching up to 21 mm (0.83 in). Females also carry a dissimilarity to their vulva which is crucial to the identification of the species.

This species is endemic to the island of Nīhoa, Hawaii. They inhabit the area of the coastline that is exposed during low tide and submerged during high tide, and are commonly found by mangrove roots or near loose coral rubble.

== References ==