 The creation of this genus was done on the basis that "Mygale" (Ctenzia) "hexops" was described as having only six eyes, which is unique among other specimens of Mygalomorphae in the area.In 1873, Reverend Octavius Pickard-Cambridge described a new species found in Wellington from the recently described "Macrothele" genus, and named this species "Macrothele huttoni".In 1891, Eugène Simon recognized "Mygale quoyi" as a synonym of "Mygale antipodiana" and also described both male and female specimens of a new species named ""Macrothele insignipes"".However, a year later, Simon created a new genus for "Mygale antipodiana", so the species became "Porrhothele antipodiana".