The longest-lived spider: Mygalomorphs dig deep, and persevere

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Abstract

We report the longest-lived spider documented to date. A 43-year-old, female Gaius villosus Rainbow, 1914 (Mygalomorphae: Idiopidae) has recently died during a long-term population study. This study was initiated by Barbara York Main at North Bungulla Reserve near Tammin, south-Western Australia, in 1974. Annual monitoring of this species of burrowing, sedentary mygalomorph spider yielded not only this record-breaking discovery but also invaluable information for high-priority conservation taxa within a global biodiversity hotspot. We suggest that the life-styles of short-range endemics provide lessons for humanity and sustainable living in old stable landscapes.

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Mason, L. D., Wardell-Johnson, G., & Main, B. Y. (2018). The longest-lived spider: Mygalomorphs dig deep, and persevere. Pacific Conservation Biology, 24(2), 203–206. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC18015

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