Rediscovery of Cnodalia halpax (Araneae: Araneidae) after an interval of 116 years

Abstract

Cnodalia harpax Thorell 1890 is recorded from Japan for the first time using the specimens collected from Amami-ôshima Is. and Okinawajima Is. This species has never been rediscovered for 116 years since it was described as a new genus and species in 1890. This species can be easily distinguished from other spiders by its general appearance, especially by the abdomen having a pair of hone-shaped projections. The most spectacular feature of this spider is its extremely long anterior claws on tarsi I and II as in a Hawaiian tetragnathid spider Doryonychus raptor Simon 1900 which captures prey using the long claw to impale them. Although foraging behavior of C. harpax is still unknown, this resemblance suggests that C. harpax also uses the long claws to capture prey.