Uahuka
Uahuka is a genus of the family of canopy spiders, whose two species are endemic to the Marquesas Islands. Herbert Walter Levi transferred the genus in 1972 in the Symphytognathidae family. However, Paolo Marcello Brignoli rejected this in 1980. U. spinifrons is endemic to Ua Huka and U. affinis occurs only on Hiva Oa, a larger island, about 50 km southeast of Ua Huka.
Naming
The genus is named after the island of Ua Huka in the Marquesas Islands. The descriptor Lucien Berland named during the 1930s several spider species after islands in the Pacific Ocean. Other names that were derived from islands, are the prey spider genus Nukuhiva and the canopy spider genus Uapou.
The name of the species U. affinis is derived from the Latin word " affinis ", which means "related", the name " spinifrons " means " thorny facade".
Species
- Uahuka affinis Berland, 1935 ( Hiva Oa )
- Uahuka spinifrons Berland, 1935 (Ua Huka )