Taking action to prevent the extinction of the critically endangered Kangaroo Island Assassin Spider

Kangaroo Island, South Australia

$33,875

raised of

$37,500

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The Kangaroo Island Assassin Spider is no ordinary arachnid. This critically endangered beast (at 6mm) boasts an ancient lineage that dates back over 40 million years to the Mesozoic era. Hidden in the leaf litter of its remote island home, this spider is a formidable predator, but with its habitat under threat and its numbers dwindling, the survival of this eerie giant hangs in the balance.

The catastrophic bushfires of 2019/2020 raised concerns about their survival. Yet, in a surprising turn, surviving individuals were found outside their known habitat after the fires, offering a flicker of hope for their continued existence.

EPBC:

Critically Endangered

IUCN:

Critically Endangered

Threats:

Genetic Diversity
Habitat Degradation
Fire
Invasive Species

Project Location:
Kangaroo Island, SA

SA

The Project

The highly experienced field team, led by leading expert, Dr Jess Marsh, and assisted by Dr Michael Rix from the Queensland Museum, will conduct a month's worth of intensive field surveys of suitable habitat. The surveys will support previous work and form a strong foundation for conservation planning and implementation to reduce the extinction risk for the species.

Why we need to act

The Kangaroo Island Assassin Spider (Zepyrarchaea austini) plays a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem’s balance by regulating other species populations.

They are only found in north-west Kangaroo Island and were devastatingly impacted by the 2019/2020 fires, with the only site it was known from burnt at high severity. Post-fire surveys were successful in locating the species and it is now only known from two sites, around 4 km from the previously-known site. These sites are in the largest remaining patch of long unburnt vegetation in north west KI. Although there is still a lot of ground to cover and survey effort needed, we have so far been unable to detect the species elsewhere.

Preserving this ancient species is crucial to maintaining the delicate equilibrium of Kangaroo Island's ecosystem.

Threats to the species

With a small, fragile population, The Kangaroo Island Assassin Spider faces significant risks, including low genetic diversity, invasive species such as feral pigs, habitat loss, and the ever-present threat of fire.

Project partners and additional information

The total project fund is $52,800.

Photo credit: Dr Jess Marsh

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