Adelocosa anops
Encyclopedia
The Kauai cave wolf spider , also known to local residents as the "blind spider", is only known to occur in a few cave
s in a lava flow with an area of 10.5 square kilometres (4.1 sq mi) in the Kōloa
–Poipū
region of Kauai
, Hawaiian Islands
, and only six populations are known to exist. While their nearest surface-dwelling relatives have large eyes, this species has completely lost its eyes. They reach a body length of about 20 millimetre (0.78740157480315 in), are reddish brown and completely harmless to people. Unlike most wolf spider
s, it produces only 15 to 30 eggs per clutch. The female carries the egg sac in her mouthparts until the spiderlings hatch.
One of its primary prey species is the Kauai cave amphipod, Spelaeorchestia koloana
, which is only known from nine populations and reaches about 10 mm (0.393700787401575 in) in length. These feed on decomposing plant matter. Both species were discovered in 1971. Counts have never documented more than 30 spiders or 80 amphipods.
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
s in a lava flow with an area of 10.5 square kilometres (4.1 sq mi) in the Kōloa
Koloa, Hawaii
Kōloa is a census-designated place in Kauai County, Hawaii, United States. The population was 1,942 at the 2000 census. Kōloa is often incorrectly translated as native duck, which is the correct translation for the similar-looking koloa . Kōloa has no known translation...
–Poipū
Poipu, Hawaii
Poipū is a census-designated place in Kauai County on the southern side of the island of Kauai in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The population was 1,075 at the 2000 census...
region of Kauai
Kauai
Kauai or Kauai, known as Tauai in the ancient Kaua'i dialect, is geologically the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands. With an area of , it is the fourth largest of the main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, and the 21st largest island in the United States. Known also as the "Garden Isle",...
, Hawaiian Islands
Hawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
, and only six populations are known to exist. While their nearest surface-dwelling relatives have large eyes, this species has completely lost its eyes. They reach a body length of about 20 millimetre (0.78740157480315 in), are reddish brown and completely harmless to people. Unlike most wolf spider
Wolf spider
Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, from the Ancient Greek word "" meaning "wolf". They are robust and agile hunters with good eyesight. They live mostly solitary lives and hunt alone. Some are opportunistic hunters pouncing upon prey as they find it or even chasing it over short...
s, it produces only 15 to 30 eggs per clutch. The female carries the egg sac in her mouthparts until the spiderlings hatch.
One of its primary prey species is the Kauai cave amphipod, Spelaeorchestia koloana
Spelaeorchestia koloana
Spelaeorchestia koloana, the Kauai cave amphipod or in Hawaiian, is a cave-dwelling crustacean only found on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. It is eyeless and measures long. It is only known from five populations, and eats decaying plant matter and other decomposing material.The Kauai cave amphipod...
, which is only known from nine populations and reaches about 10 mm (0.393700787401575 in) in length. These feed on decomposing plant matter. Both species were discovered in 1971. Counts have never documented more than 30 spiders or 80 amphipods.