Pianoa

{{Short description|Genus of spiders}} {{Speciesbox | name = | image = Piano-flat-spider-steve-kerr-cc-by-01.jpg | image_caption = | image2 = | image2_caption = | taxon = Pianoa isolata | authority = Forster, 1987 | parent_authority = Forster, 1987<ref name=wsc /> }}

'''''Pianoa''''' is a monotypic genus of large-clawed spiders endemic to New Zealand. It contains a single species, '''''Pianoa isolata''''', known commonly as the '''piano flat spider'''.

It was first described by Raymond Robert Forster, Norman I. Platnick & Michael R. Gray in 1987.<ref name="Fors1987" /><ref name="wsc" />

== Distribution == The piano flat spider is found throughout the Waikaia Forest and at other locations in northern Southland and west Otago.<ref name="rodm" />

== Description == Juveniles are pale white with no markings, but develop pigmentation after several molts.<ref name="Fors1987" />

Egg sacs are pale cream or white in colour.<ref name="Fors1987" />

== Habitat == ''P. isolata'' has been observed living in leaf litter and rotting logs on the forest floor.<ref name="visitnz" /><ref name="govnz" />

== Behaviour and diet == The piano flat spider is nocturnal. It is an active hunter and does not build a web, instead using a large claw on the end of its first and second legs to seize prey, which it bites repeatedly.<ref name="rodm" /><ref name="noted" />

Egg-sacs are laid in the cavities of fallen logs in late spring to early summer. After three to four weeks, juveniles emerge from a small hole at the base of the egg-sac.<ref name="forster1987" />

== Conservation == The piano flat spider is classified as At Risk (Relict) by the Department of Conservation.<ref name="sirvid2012" />

==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="wsc">{{cite web | url=https://wsc.nmbe.ch/genus/1015 | title=Gen. ''Pianoa'' Forster, 1987 | publisher=World Spider Catalog | doi=10.24436/2 | accessdate=2025-10-29}}</ref> <ref name="rodm">{{Cite web |title=New Zealand Invertebrates - Rod Morris |url=https://www.rodmorris.co.nz/New-Zealand-Invertebrates/New-Zealand-Invertebrates/i-2j2M24J |access-date=2019-12-17 |website=www.rodmorris.co.nz}}</ref> <ref name="visitnz">{{Cite web |title=Waikaia, Southern Coast, New Zealand |url=https://www.visit-newzealand.co.nz/southerncoast/waikaia.html |access-date=2019-12-17 |website=www.visit-newzealand.co.nz}}</ref> <ref name="govnz">{{Cite book |url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/southland/pianof-waikaiaforest.pdf |title=Piano Flat and Waikaia Forest |publisher=Department of Conservation |year=2001}}</ref> <ref name="noted">{{Cite web |last=Noted |title=Passport to Waikaia: Southland's slice of paradise |url=https://www.noted.co.nz/life/life-travel/passport-to-waikaia-southlands-slice-of-paradise |access-date=2019-12-17 |website=www.noted.co.nz |language=en}}</ref> <ref name="forster1987">{{Cite journal |last1=Forster |first1=Raymond R. |last2=Platnick |first2=Norman I. |last3=Gray |first3=Michael R. |date=1987 |title=A review of the spider superfamilies Hypochiloidea and Austrochiloidea (Araneae, Araneomorphae). |journal=Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History |language=en-US |volume=185 |hdl=2246/969}}</ref> <ref name="sirvid2012">{{Cite journal |last1=Sirvid |first1=P. J. |last2=Vink |first2=C. J. |last3=Wakelin |first3=M. D. |last4=Fitzgerald |first4=B. M. |last5=Hitchmough |first5=R. A. |last6=Stringer |first6=I. A.N. |date=July 2012 |title=The conservation status of New Zealand Araneae |journal=New Zealand Entomologist |language=en |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=85–90 |bibcode=2012NZEnt..35...85S |doi=10.1080/00779962.2012.686310 |issn=0077-9962 |s2cid=84574921}}</ref> <ref name="Fors1987">{{cite journal|last1=Forster|first1=R. R.|last2=Platnick|first2=N. I.|last3=Gray|first3=M. R.|year=1987|title=A review of the spider superfamilies Hypochiloidea and Austrochiloidea (Araneae, Araneomorphae).|journal=Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History|pages=1–116|volume=185}}</ref> }}

==External links== * {{inaturalist taxon}}

Category:Gradungulidae Category:Monotypic Araneomorphae genera Category:Endemic spiders of New Zealand Category:Taxa named by Raymond Robert Forster