In 2018, the World Spider Catalogue listed more than 47,000 species of spiders distributed within more than 4,000 genera worldwide. Some scientific studies suggest that at least twice as many species need to be discovered.
New Caledonia, classified as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots because of the incredible richness of its fauna and flora, both heavily threatened by human impacts, is not to be outdone. More than 320 species of spiders have been recorded there since the 19th century, and extrapolations from other places suggest that there are probably more to be discovered.
Much of these species is endemic to New Caledonia but the 25 10 15 10 20 development of international trade has led to the arrival on the Tarantula Triangular spider Gladiator spider Long-jawed orb weaver Long-jawed orb weaver archipelago of adapted exotic (aliens) species to live Barychelidae - not identified Arkyidae - Arkys brevipalpus Deinopidae - Menneus neocaledonicus Tetragnathidae - Leucauge granulata Tetragnathidae - Tetragnatha sp. with Man like Smeringopus pollidus (the ceiling spider, also called «Daddy long legs») which is an anthropophilic species. Mean body size There is also so-called ubiquitous species that can be (cephalothorax and found everywhere in the intertropical zone or even abdomen) in mm globally. Endemic species The giant golden orb spider Nephila sp. weaves very resistant gigantic webs, while others are microscopic or even mimetic in order to blend into the background scenery like the Hersilidae. Some have developed incredible hunting techniques: like a retiarius, 15 20 15 5 15 Menneus neocoledonicus, called a gladiator spider, Huntsman spider Crab spider Wolf spider throws a silk net on its preys, the wolf spider Desidae - Bakala episinoides Sparassidae - Olios sp. Sparassidae - Prychia gracilis Thomisidae - Diaea rufoannulata Lycosidae - not identified (of the Lycosidae family) ambushes on the ground and the ant spider (Anatea formicaria) mimics its prey to better approach it. From far being exhaustive, this poster presents a selection of 30 portraits, representative of the extreme diversity of forms and lifestyles, including some emblematic species such as a tarantula, a black widow or a spiny orb 10 5 5 10 20 15 weaver, and others that are much less Lynx spider Tree trunk spider Daddy long legs Ninja-star ceiling spider Fishing spider known but are of equal interest to Oxyopidae - Oxyopes quadrifasciatus Hersiliidae - Tamopsis sp. Pholcidae - Smeringopus pallidus Uloboridae - Zosis geniculata Pisauridae - Dolomedes sp. Araneidae - Poltys timmeh nature enthusiasts.
30 25 20 15 20 10 5 Mourier Thomas Isabelle Gasser & Vilayleck, Ramel, Mina Florence Shankar Meyer, Pomiès, Valérie to Acknowledgements Giant golden orb-weaver Wool-bearing spider Wool-bearing spider Zig-zag spider Tent spider Spinybacked orbweaver Two-spined spider Araneidae - Trichonephila plumipes Araneidae - Eriophora flavicoma Araneidae - Eriophora transmarina Araneidae - Argiope caledonia Araneidae - Cyrtophora moluccensis Araneidae - Gasteracantha sp. Araneidae - Poecilopachys australasia
5 20 10 5 10 15 10 Drew drop spider Whip spider Redback spider Ant-mimicking spider Jumping spider Jumping spider Jumping spider Theridiidae - Argyrodes antipodianus Theridiidae - Ariamnes colubrinus Theridiidae - Latrodectus hasselti Theridiidae - Anatea formicaria Salticidae - not identified Salticidae - Corambis jacknicholsoni Salticidae - Cosmophasis baehrae
Jean Roger & Hervé Jourdan (IRD) - https://doi.org/10.23708/fdi:010078651 - Photos credits: J. Roger & D. Brouste © 2020