Mygalomorph Spider in Samoa

Abstract

MYGALOMORPH spiders are notoriously absent from oceanic islands, owing to the fact that their young do not habitually distribute themselves by sailing in the air on gossamer. It is interesting, therefore, to record the occurrence in Samoa of Idioctis helva L. Koch, one of the Barychelidæ. This species was recorded previously only from Fiji, and the Samoan specimens differ only in minor details from the descriptions of the Fijian ones. Mygalomorph spiders of any kind are recorded in the south-west Pacific only from New Zealand, Fiji, New Caledonia and the groups to the north. All these islands are situated in the relatively shallower part of the ocean. Mygalomorphs have not previously been recorded on the truly oceanic islands to the east.