Spiders

Spiders

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Tips for submitting spider sightings: 

Photos from various angles are sometimes necessary for specific ID.

  • front (eye arrangement, pedipalp colour)
  • dorsal (above - general colouration, carapace and abdomen patterns)
  • ventral (underneath - especially useful for some of the ground-dwelling families and orb-weaving families)
  • side (further details for general shape, abdomen patterns and eye configuration)
  • back (further details for abdomen pattern).

Comments or photos on the following also provides valuable information if/when such features are applicable and observed...

  • surroundings and location (eg. ground, leaf litter, hand rail, tree trunk)
  • web structure and silk use (eg. orb, messy & tangled, throwing silk)
  • breeding (eg. display, egg sac)
  • behaviour (eg. hunting, interaction, familiarity with people such as the threatening display of a huntsman or the friendly and curious jumping spiders that jump onto the camera lens)
  • notable, unique, exciting or strange observations (eg. spur-like protrusions from legs, camouflage, mimicry)

Please note that the size of the spider is measured by body length.

  • body size is from the top of the cephalothorax (head) to the tip of the abdomen without including the legs.

(Updated: October, 2022. Please feel free to message a spider moderator if you have any queries or suggestions for improvement)

Resources: 

  • Field guide: A Field Guide to Spiders of Australia authored by Robert Whyte & Greg Anderson
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Spiders

Huntsman spiders (Sparassidae)
Jumping or peacock spiders (Salticidae)
Wolf spiders (Lycosidae)
Other hunting spiders
Orb-weaving spiders (several families)
Trapdoor, Funnelweb or Mouse spiders (Mygalomorphae)
Other web-building spiders
Water spiders (Pisauridae)

Featured sightings

Latest sightings

Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Arkys) at Acton, ACT by TimL
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Arkys) at Acton, ACT by TimL
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Arkys) at Acton, ACT by TimL
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Arkys) at Acton, ACT by TimL
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Arkys) at Acton, ACT by TimL
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Arkys) at Acton, ACT by TimL
Portacosa cinerea at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus
Dolophones sp. (genus) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1
Araneus talipedatus (Slender green orb-weaver) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1
Araneus ginninderranus (Dondale's Orb-weaver) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1
Thomisidae (family) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1
Araneus sp. (genus) (Orb weaver) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1
Novakiella trituberculosa at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1
Araneinae (subfamily) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1
Araneinae (subfamily) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1
Araneinae (subfamily) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1
Araneinae (subfamily) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1
Araneinae (subfamily) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1
Araneinae (subfamily) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1
Araneinae (subfamily) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1
Araneus talipedatus (Slender green orb-weaver) at Braddon, ACT by Hejor1
Thomisidae (family) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1
Lycosidae (family) at Chisholm, ACT by RomanSoroka
Prostheclina sp (genus) (A jumping spider) at Acton, ACT by KarinNeufeld
Arkys walckenaeri (Triangle spider) at Hall, ACT by Anna123
Runcinia insecta at Higgins, ACT by pinnaCLE
Unidentified Spider at Elands, NSW by Jek
Nyssus coloripes (Spotted Ground Swift Spider) at Murray Gorge, NSW by VanceLawrence
Tetragnatha sp. (genus) (Long-jawed spider) at Murray Gorge, NSW by VanceLawrence
Tetragnatha sp. (genus) (Long-jawed spider) at Murray Gorge, NSW by VanceLawrence
Austracantha minax (Christmas Spider, Jewel Spider) at Gundaroo, NSW by ConBoekel
Argiope protensa (Long-tailed Argiope) at Gundaroo, NSW by ConBoekel
Tamopsis sp. (genus) (Two-tailed spider) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K
Araneinae (subfamily) (Orb weaver) at Wog Wog, NSW by Mulch
Arkys sp. (genus) (An Ambush, Bird-dropping or Triangular Spider) at Acton, ACT by TimL
Phonognathidae (family) at Tomakin, NSW by Hejor1
Maratus scutulatus at Tomakin, NSW by Hejor1
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Arkys) at Noorinbee, VIC by JasonPStewartNMsnc2016
Arkys walckenaeri (Triangle spider) at Tinderry, NSW by danswell
Atrax sutherlandi (Funnel-web Spider) at Tinderry, NSW by danswell
Atrax sp. (genus) (Funnel-web spider) at Tinderry, NSW by danswell
Neosparassus calligaster (Beautiful Badge Huntsman) at Tinderry, NSW by danswell
Phonognatha graeffei (Leaf Curling Spider) at Hawker, ACT by sangio7
Trichonephila edulis (Golden orb weaver) at Greenway, ACT by shube
Leucauge dromedaria (Silver dromedary spider) at Downer, ACT by RobertD
Opisthoncus sexmaculatus (Six-marked jumping spider) at Yarralumla, ACT by Jubeyjubes
Phonognatha graeffei at Aranda, ACT by Jubeyjubes
Euryopis umbilicata (Striped tick spider) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Cryptachaea veruculata (Diamondback comb-footed spider) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Cryptachaea veruculata (Diamondback comb-footed spider) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Unidentified Other hunting spider at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Salticidae (family) (Jumping spider) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Austracantha minax (Christmas Spider, Jewel Spider) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Neosparassus calligaster (Beautiful Badge Huntsman) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Thomisidae (family) (Unidentified Crab spider or Flower spider) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Oxyopes sp. (genus) (Lynx spider) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Apricia jovialis (Jovial jumping spider) at Yass River, NSW by SenexRugosus
Habronestes sp. (genus) (An ant-eating spider) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Argoctenus sp. (genus) (Wandering ghost spider) at Weetangera, ACT by SarahE
Clynotis severus (Stern Jumping Spider) at Strathnairn, ACT by Pirom
Trichonephila edulis (Golden orb weaver) at Aranda, ACT by Jubeyjubes
Badumna sp. (genus) (Lattice-web spider) at Surf Beach, NSW by Hejor1
Austracantha minax (Christmas Spider, Jewel Spider) at Wodonga, VIC by KylieWaldon
Thomisidae (family) (Unidentified Crab spider or Flower spider) at Wodonga, VIC by KylieWaldon
Servaea incana (Hoary Servaea) at Ainslie, ACT by Hejor1
Cryptachaea veruculata (Diamondback comb-footed spider) at Braddon, ACT by Hejor1
Maratus griseus at Ainslie, ACT by Hejor1
Tamopsis sp. (genus) (Two-tailed spider) at Macgregor, ACT by AlisonMilton
Nyssus albopunctatus (White-spotted swift spider) at Weetangera, ACT by AlisonMilton
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Arkys) at Acton, ACT by TimL
Unidentified Spider at Aranda, ACT by Mathew
Dolophones sp. (genus) (Wrap-around spider) at Greenleigh, NSW by LyndalT
Unidentified Spider at Burnside, QLD by clarehoneydove
Araneidae (family) at Burnside, QLD by clarehoneydove
Gasteracanatha quadrispinosa at Burnside, QLD by clarehoneydove
Unidentified Spider at Burnside, QLD by clarehoneydove
Trichonephila plumipes at Jervis Bay Village, JBT by Maxxy167
Opisthoncus sp. (genus) (Opisthoncus jumping spider) at O'Connor, ACT by ConBoekel
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Arkys) at Acton, ACT by TimL
Nephila pilipes at Boambee, NSW by lbradley
Salticidae (family) (Jumping spider) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K
Salticidae (family) (Jumping spider) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K
Delena cancerides (Social huntsman spider) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K
Mituliodon tarantulinus (Prowling Spider) at Dunlop, ACT by ploffskinpluffskin
Neosparassus calligaster (Beautiful Badge Huntsman) at Russell, ACT by Hejor1
Thomisidae (family) (Unidentified Crab spider or Flower spider) at Parkes, ACT by Hejor1
Oxyopes sp. (genus) (Lynx spider) at Weetangera, ACT by AlisonMilton
Nyssus coloripes (Spotted Ground Swift Spider) at Hume, ACT by YumiCallaway
Neosparassus patellatus (Tasmanian Badge Huntsman) at Chisholm, ACT by RomanSoroka
Austracantha minax (Christmas Spider, Jewel Spider) at Higgins, ACT by Untidy
Araneidae (family) at Downer, ACT by RobertD
Araneus circulissparsus (species group) (Speckled Orb-weaver) at Ainslie, ACT by jb2602
Hortophora sp. (genus) (Garden orb weaver) at Gilmore, ACT by Melmo
Opisthoncus sp. (genus) (Opisthoncus jumping spider) at Kambah, ACT by HelenCross
Opisthoncus sp. (genus) (Opisthoncus jumping spider) at Lindfield, NSW by Hejor1
Sandalodes sp. (genus) at Lindfield, NSW by Hejor1
Argoctenus sp. (genus) (Wandering ghost spider) at Belconnen, ACT by JohnGiacon
Dolophones sp. (genus) (Wrap-around spider) at Belconnen, ACT by JohnGiacon
Argoctenus sp. (genus) (Wandering ghost spider) at Belconnen, ACT by JohnGiacon
Nyssus coloripes (Spotted Ground Swift Spider) at Belconnen, ACT by JohnGiacon

Moderators

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Announcements

Discussion

MichaelMulvaney wrote:
1 hr ago
Thanks Tim - I was expecting the bigger one to prey on the other
Arkys curtulus
MichaelMulvaney wrote:
Yesterday
Yes female is larger longer spider. Long Jawed spider females may mate with multiple males but the last male to mate is most likely to be successful - so there is an advantage in hanging around in the near vicinity
Tetragnatha sp. (genus)
MichaelMulvaney wrote:
Yesterday
Possibly a Backobourkia species
Araneinae (subfamily)
MichaelBedingfield wrote:
27 Jan 2025
Eggcase
Tamopsis sp. (genus)
JasonPStewartNMsnc2016 wrote:
26 Jan 2025
@EathanDouglas thank you .
Arkys curtulus

Significant sightings

Recent activity

Araneus sp. (genus) at Surf Beach, NSW

Araneus ginninderranus at Surf Beach, NSW

Araneus talipedatus at Surf Beach, NSW

Araneus talipedatus at Braddon, ACT

Arkys curtulus at Acton, ACT

Arkys curtulus at Acton, ACT

Arkys curtulus at Acton, ACT

Arkys curtulus at Acton, ACT

Arkys curtulus at Acton, ACT

Arkys curtulus at Acton, ACT

Species Richness Score (SRS)

Top contributors

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1,908,675 sightings of 21,417 species from 13,217 contributors
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