New spider genus named after former Hay student

Written By Krista Schade

By Tertia Butcher

Former Hay War Memorial High School student, Simon McClusky has been honored for his volunteer work in paleontological excavations by having a spider named after him.

Dr McClusky discovered the fossil site of what has been named Megamonodontium mccluskyi at McGraths Flat near Gulgong in Central NSW.

The new genus of spider is the first ever spider fossil of the Barychelidae family to be found. It is similar to the living genus, Monodontium (a brushed trapdoor spider) but five times larger.

The fossil is between 11 – 16 million years old and the findings on this new genus of spider have now been published in the 2023 Zoological Journal of Linnean Society.

Dr McClusky is a geospatial scientist based in Canberra and is the son of former Hay residents, Rowan and Shirley McClusky.

The fossilised spider discovered by former Hay student Simon McClusky. Image: The Australian Museum


Krista Schade
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