CAMBRIDGEA QUADROMACUIATA N-SP (ARANEAE, STIPHIDIIDAE) - A LARGE NEW-ZEALAND SPIDER FROM WET, SHADED HABITATS

A new species of Stiphidiid spider be longing to the endemic New Zeala nd genus Cambridgea is described from Riccarton Bush, Christchurch and Kaituna Valley, Banks Peninsula. Cambridgea quadromaculata n. sp. is large, active, and apparently makes no substantial webs. Both samples were from wet habitats vulnerable to intermittent flooding. Characters that distinguish C. quadromaculata from other large Cambridgea are sp ecified. Attention is drawn to a possible ecological and systematic pa rallel between Cambridgea and the European genus Tegenaria Latreille ( Agelenidae).