Tartarus mullamullangensis

Tartarus mullamullangensis
	T. mullamullangensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Suborder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Stiphidiidae
Genus:	Tartarus
Species:	T. mullamullangensis
Binomial name
	Tartarus mullamullangensis; Gray, 1973
Synonyms
	Baiami mullamullangensis

Tartarus mullamullangensis, informally known as the Mullamullang cave spider, is a palm-sized, long-legged cave spider from Western Australia. Completely adapted to cave living, it is blind and totally lacks pigmentation, giving it a creamy white appearance.

The cylindrical lampshade-shaped web is spun out between rocks.

The species is closely related to spiders found in forests of Southern Australia. This makes it likely that T. mullamullangensis is a relict species from the time when the now arid region was much more humid.

First photo of the N37 cave spider discovered and photographed by Bill Crowle under the cairn built at the end of N37, (Mullamullang). Two miles underground along a large passage of many rockpiles, sanddunes and lakes, and about 300 ft under the surface. The black & white image Bill Crowle made can be seen on the right. The spider was later described by Mike Gray, who was on this trip.

Mullamullang Spider with web

Name

The species name is derived from Mullamullang, a cave system in the Nullarbor Plain of Western and Southern Australia.

gollark: Terrestrial housing gets breathable air and some degree of temperature control "for free".

gollark: It'll probably be a while before there are actually space habitats that big, and more having to be done technologically probably means more failures.

gollark: If they fail on a space habitat, I probably die horribly and can't easily get help from somewhere nearby.

gollark: If the power or water supply fail here, I'll probably be somewhat uncomfortable until they're restored, but be basically fine, at least as long as they're available somewhere not too far away.

gollark: No, the requirements on a space habitat are higher.

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