An ancient species of spider found only on Kangaroo Island is feared extinct after bushfires tore across the region last week.
The species of assassin spider — Zephyrarchaea austini — also called the pelican spider, is only known to occur in the Western River Wilderness Protection Area on Kangaroo Island.
The entire region where the spider is found was burnt in the blaze, which razed more than 200,000 hectares of bush and farmland, according to Mike Rix from the Queensland Museum, who first described the spider.
“It’s only known from the…north-west of the island,” Dr Rix said.
While bigger mammals like koalas and kangaroos have been the focus of concern during the bushfires, it’s the wiping out of smaller animals that will have the biggest ecological impact, according to Dr Rix.
“Small animals are the foundation of healthy ecosystems,” he said.
“Insects are crucial in all food webs in any major habitat on Earth and spiders are major predators of insects.”
While the arthropods — insects, spiders and crustaceans — may not be as photogenic as koalas, ecosystems collapse if they’re not present.
They’re food for larger animals, but they also recycle nutrients back into the system, help control pests and pollinate plants.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2020-01-18/assassin-spider-extinct-kangaroo-island/11876294
