Cataxia melindae is a species of mygalomorph spider in the Idiopidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 2017 by Australian arachnologists Michael Rix, Karlene Bain, Barbara York Main and Mark Harvey. The specific epithet melindae honours Melinda Moir for her dedicated biological survey work in the type locality.[1][2]

Cataxia melindae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Idiopidae
Genus: Cataxia
Species:
C. melindae
Binomial name
Cataxia melindae

Distribution and habitat

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The species occurs in southern Western Australia, in the Mallee bioregion, and has a known distribution restricted to mesic gullies in dense heathland on Mount Manypeaks. The type locality is the Mount Manypeaks Nature Reserve, about 35 km north-east of Albany.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Rix, MG; Bain, K; Main, BY; Raven, RJ; Austin, AD; Cooper, SJB; Harvey, MS (2017). "Systematics of the spiny trapdoor spiders of the genus Cataxia (Mygalomorphae: Idiopidae) from southwestern Australia: Documenting a threatened fauna in a sky-island landscape". Journal of Arachnology. 45 (3): 395–423 [410]. doi:10.1636/0161-8202-45.1.451. Retrieved 2023-08-12.
  2. ^ a b "Species Cataxia melindae Rix, Bain, Main & Harvey, 2017". Australian Faunal Directory. Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia. 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2023-08-12.