{{Short description|Genus of spiders}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}} {{Speciesbox | name = | image = P1150023-001.jpg | image_caption = Nelson cave spider, Oparara basin, Karamea, New Zealand | image2 = | image2_caption = | status = RR | status_system = NZTCS | taxon = Spelungula cavernicola | authority = Forster, 1987 | parent_authority = Forster, 1987<ref name=wsc /> }}
'''''Spelungula''''' is a monotypic genus of South Pacific large-clawed spiders containing the single species, '''''Spelungula cavernicola''''', or the '''Nelson cave spider'''.<ref name="wsc2" />
== Taxonomy == This species was described in 1987 by Ray Forster from specimens collected in caves around Nelson.<ref name="Fors1987" /> The holotype is stored at Te Papa Museum under registration number AS.000014.<ref name="tepapa" />
==Etymology== The genus name is derived from "spelunca", which is latin for cave and is feminine in gender. The species name "cavernicola" refers to the species restriction to caves.<ref name="Fors1987" />
<gallery mode="packed"> File:Nelson_Cave_Spider_imported_from_iNaturalist_photo_367168822_on_13_October_2024.jpg File:Nelson Cave Spider imported from iNaturalist photo 326795454 on 13 October 2024.jpg File:Nelson Cave Spider imported from iNaturalist photo 326724522 on 13 October 2024.jpg </gallery>
==Description== It is New Zealand's largest known spider, with a leg span of {{convert|13|to|15|cm}} and a body length of {{convert|2.4|cm|in}}, and its main prey is cave weta.<ref name="teara" /><ref name="tepapa2" /> left|thumb|Holotype of ''Spelungula cavernicola''
== Distribution/habitat == This species is only known from caves in northwestern Nelson, New Zealand.<ref name="Fors1987" />
==Conservation status== It is one of the few spider species afforded legal protection under the New Zealand Wildlife Act.<ref name="faulls1991" /><ref name="legnz" /> It is classified as "Range Restricted" and stable in the New Zealand Threat Classification System.<ref name="molloy2002" />
In May 2022, the Crazy Paving Cave in Kahurangi National Park, where the spiders are known to breed, was closed for a year in an attempt to help the population to recover.<ref name="rnz" />
==See also== *Spiders of New Zealand
==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="wsc">{{cite web | url=https://wsc.nmbe.ch/genus/1017 | title=Gen. ''Spelungula'' Forster, 1987 | publisher=World Spider Catalog | doi=10.24436/2 | accessdate=2025-10-29}}</ref> <ref name="wsc2">{{Cite web |title=NMBE - World Spider Catalog |url=https://wsc.nmbe.ch/species/12698 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=wsc.nmbe.ch}}</ref> <ref name="tepapa">{{Cite web |title=Collections Online - Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa |url=https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/125443 |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=collections.tepapa.govt.nz}}</ref> <ref name="teara">{{cite web |last=McLachlan |first=Andrew |title=Nelson cave spider |url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/28811/nelson-cave-spider |access-date=2016-05-29 |website=www.teara.govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu |language=en}}</ref> <ref name="tepapa2">{{cite web |title=Topic: Nelson cave spider {{!}} Collections Online – Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa |url=http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/Topic/9432 |access-date=2016-05-28 |website=collections.tepapa.govt.nz}}</ref> <ref name="faulls1991">{{cite journal |last=Faulls |first=D. |year=1991 |title=Eight legs, two fangs and an attitude |journal=New Zealand Geographic |issue=10 |pages=68–96}}</ref> <ref name="legnz">[http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1953/0031/latest/DLM278595.html#DLM278595 Wildlife Act] – Schedule 7 Terrestrial and freshwater invertebrates declared to be animals</ref> <ref name="molloy2002">{{cite web |last=Molloy |first=Janice |display-authors=etal |year=2002 |title=Classifying species according to threat of extinction. A system for New Zealand |url=http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/science-and-technical/TSOP22.pdf |access-date=2008-02-29 |publisher=Department of Conservation (New Zealand)}}</ref> <ref name="rnz">{{Cite news |date=1 June 2022 |title=Nelson cave to shut for a year to improve rare spider's population |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/468295/nelson-cave-to-shut-for-a-year-to-improve-rare-spider-s-population |access-date=1 June 2022 |work=RNZ}}</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 |volume=185 |pages=1–116}}</ref> }}
==External links== * {{inaturalist taxon}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q14736493|from2=Q2376193}}
Category:Cave spiders Category:Gradungulidae Category:IUCN Red List data deficient species Category:Monotypic Araneomorphae genera Category:Taxa named by Raymond Robert Forster Category:Endemic spiders of New Zealand