An African mygalomorph lineage in temperate Australia: the trapdoor spider genus Moggridgea (Araneae: Migidae) on Kangaroo Island, South Australia

Abstract

The trapdoor spider genus Moggridgea O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1875 is widespread across the Afrotropical region, with a further two species recorded from southern Australia. One of these Australian species, M. tingle Main, 1991 from south-western Australia, has recently been transferred to a separate genus, along with six additional new species. However, consistent with previous research, we find that M. australis Main, 1991 from Kangaroo Island, South Australia, is not congeneric with the south-western Australian taxa, and appears to be a valid member of the otherwise African genus Moggridgea. This suggests a potential case of trans-oceanic dispersal, which would be remarkable for a mygalomorph spider. We redescribe this species based on newly collected specimens, and find that Aganippe rainbowi Pulleine, 1919, also from Kangaroo Island, is conspecific with M. australis and is the senior synonym, forming the new combination, M. rainbowi (Pulleine, 1919). We further discuss the ecology and biogeography of the species, and highlight avenues for future research.