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

Unidentified Huntsman spider (Sparassidae) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus
Plebs bradleyi at Bungonia, NSW by AlisonMilton
Unidentified Jumping or peacock spider (Salticidae) at Higgins, ACT by AlisonMilton
Thomisidae (family) at Wollogorang, NSW by trevorpreston
Opisthoncus sp. (genus) (Unidentified Opisthoncus jumping spider) at Lerida, NSW by trevorpreston
Dolophones sp. (genus) (Wrap-around spider) at Brownlow Hill, NSW by caitlinharnett
Clynotis severus at Carwoola, NSW by clarehoneydove
Opisthoncus sexmaculatus (Six-marked jumping spider) at Tarago, NSW by clarehoneydove
Unidentified Spider at Vincentia, NSW by JodieR
Maratus plumosus (Plumed Peacock Spider) at Oaks Estate, ACT by patrickcox
Maratus proszynskii (Peacock spider) at Oaks Estate, ACT by patrickcox
Euophryinae sp. (Rockhopper) undescribed (Euophryinae sp. (Rockhopper) undescribed) at Oaks Estate, ACT by patrickcox
Argoctenus sp. (genus) at Oaks Estate, ACT by patrickcox
Dolophones sp. (genus) (Wrap-around spider) at Brownlow Hill, NSW by RandallG
Maratus griseus (Jumping spider) at Kandos, NSW by aussiejai
Australomisidia sp. (genus) at Kandos, NSW by aussiejai
Lehtinelagia prasina (Leek-green flower spider) at Captains Flat, NSW by Csteele4
Arbanitis sp. (genus) (An armoured trapdoor spider) at Jamberoo, NSW by nancyp
Phonognatha graeffei (Leaf Curling Spider) at Carwoola, NSW by clarehoneydove
Austracantha minax (Christmas Spider, Jewel Spider) at Carwoola, NSW by clarehoneydove
Latrodectus hasselti (Redback Spider) at Downer, ACT by RobertD
Trichonephila edulis (Golden orb weaver) at Watson, ACT by sbittinger
Austracantha minax (Christmas Spider, Jewel Spider) at Watson, ACT by sbittinger
Arkys walckenaeri (Triangle spider) at Tharwa, ACT by Harrisi
Runcinia sp. (genus) (A Grass Crab Spider) at Kambah, ACT by HelenCross
Phoroncidia sextuberculata (Six-knobbed Phoroncidia) at Kambah, ACT by HelenCross
Badumna insignis (Black House Spider) at Aranda, ACT by KMcCue
Miturga sp. (genus) at Ainslie, ACT by Pirom
Maratus griseus at West Hobart, TAS by VanessaC
Apricia jovialis (Jovial jumping spider) at Mitchell, ACT by SteveBorkowskis
Tasmanicosa sp. (genus) (Tasmanicosa wolf spider) at Snowy Plain, NSW by jpittock
Trichonephila plumipes (Pacific golden orb weaver) at Bongaree, QLD by lbradley
Hortophora sp. (genus) (Garden orb weaver) at Gilmore, ACT by Melmo
Thomisus spectabilis (Spectacular Crab Spider) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus
Thomisidae (family) (Unidentified Crab spider or Flower spider) at Florey, ACT by Kurt
Maratus griseus (Jumping spider) at Lyons, ACT by ran452
Desidae (family) (Desid spider) at Isaacs, ACT by NateKingsford
Gnaphosidae (family) (Ground spider) at Perth, WA by Jade
Maratus scutulatus (A jumping spider) at Palerang, NSW by clarehoneydove
Tasmanicosa sp. (genus) (Tasmanicosa wolf spider) at Chisholm, ACT by RomanSoroka
Theridion sp. (genus) at Ainslie, ACT by Pirom
Asianopis sp. (genus) (Net-casting spider) at Isaacs, ACT by NateKingsford
Lamponidae (family) at Murrumbateman, NSW by SimoneC
Thomisus spectabilis (Spectacular Crab Spider) at Braidwood, NSW by MatthewFrawley
Austracantha minax (Christmas Spider, Jewel Spider) at Manton, NSW by ConBoekel
Tasmanicosa sp. (genus) (Tasmanicosa wolf spider) at Yarralumla, ACT by KMcCue
Paramatachia sp. (genus) (A desid or intertidal spider) at Manton, NSW by ConBoekel
Cymbacha ocellata (Crab spider) at Jerrabomberra, NSW by MarkT
Cryptachaea gigantipes (White porch spider) at Downer, ACT by RobertD
Oxyopes sp. (genus) (Lynx spider) at Lyons, ACT by ran452
Helpis sp. (genus) (Unidentified Bronze Jumping Spider) at Florey, ACT by KorinneM
Servaea narraweena at Braemar, NSW by Curiosity
Arkys walckenaeri (Triangle spider) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove
Segestriidae sp (family) (Tube Dwelling Spider) at Casey, ACT by Hejor1
Plebs bradleyi at Casey, ACT by Hejor1
Araneus eburnus at Casey, ACT by Hejor1
Cryptachaea gigantipes at Casey, ACT by Hejor1
Intruda signata (Ground spider) at Casey, ACT by Hejor1
Servaea sp. (genus) at Casey, ACT by Hejor1
Euryopis umbilicata (Striped tick spider) at Casey, ACT by Hejor1
Euryopis sp. (genus) (An ant eating spider) at Casey, ACT by Hejor1
Cryptachaea veruculata (Diamondback comb-footed spider) at Casey, ACT by Hejor1
Nyssus coloripes (Spotted Ground Swift Spider) at Florey, ACT by KorinneM
Apricia jovialis (Jovial jumping spider) at Florey, ACT by KorinneM
Argoctenus sp. (genus) (Wandering ghost spider) at Florey, ACT by KorinneM
Salticidae (family) (Jumping spider) at Lyons, ACT by ran452
Thomisus spectabilis (Spectacular Crab Spider) at Downer, ACT by RobertD
Dolophones sp. (genus) (Wrap-around spider) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove
Pediana regina (Queen of the Huntsmen) at Goulburn, NSW by trevorpreston
Hortophora sp. (genus) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove
Unidentified Spider at Forbes Creek, NSW by clarehoneydove
Neosparassus sp. (genus) (Badge huntsman) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove
Nyssus albopunctatus (White-spotted swift spider) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove
Gnaphosidae (family) (Ground spider) at Kambah, ACT by HelenCross
Lehtinelagia prasina (Leek-green flower spider) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove
Maratus vespertilio (Bat-like peacock spider) at Tharwa, ACT by patrickcox
Lampona sp. (genus) (White-tailed spider) at Borough, NSW by Paul4K
Unidentified Other hunting spider at Borough, NSW by Paul4K
Phonognatha graeffei (Leaf Curling Spider) at Gordon, ACT by GG
Backobourkia sp. (genus) at Bungonia, NSW by AlisonMilton
Leucauge sp. (genus) (Silver Orb-weaver) at Bungonia, NSW by AlisonMilton
Opisthoncus sp. (genus) (Unidentified Opisthoncus jumping spider) at Higgins, ACT by Jennybach
Unidentified Orb-weaving spider (several families) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove
Unidentified Orb-weaving spider (several families) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove
Hortophora sp. (genus) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove
Latrodectus hasselti (Redback Spider) at Orangeville, NSW by caitlinharnett
Runcinia acuminata (Pointy Crab Spider) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove
Thomisus spectabilis (Spectacular Crab Spider) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove
Lehtinelagia prasina (Leek-green flower spider) at Bungendore, NSW by clarehoneydove
Stephanopis altifrons (Knobbly crab spider) at Reid, ACT by Hejor1
Stephanopis altifrons (Knobbly crab spider) at Reid, ACT by Hejor1
Araneae (order) at Campbell, ACT by Hejor1
Oxyopes sp. (genus) (Lynx spider) at Campbell, ACT by Hejor1
Phonognathidae (family) (Leaf curling orb-weavers) at Campbell, ACT by Hejor1
Araneidae (family) at Campbell, ACT by Hejor1
Gea theridioides (An orb weaver spider) at Ainslie, ACT by Pirom
Venatrix sp. (genus) (Unidentified Venatrix wolf spider) at Kambah, ACT by GirtsO
Opisthoncus sp. (genus) (Unidentified Opisthoncus jumping spider) at Palerang, NSW by AlisonMilton
Unidentified Jumping or peacock spider (Salticidae) at Dunlop, ACT by kasiaaus
Unidentified Spider at Brownlow Hill, NSW by elisebird

Moderators

YumiCallaway
EmmaCollins
NateKingsford
EathanDouglas
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Announcements

Discussion

NateKingsford wrote:
Yesterday
Not the most confident that it's a Badumna, but hard to tell as it's very young
Desidae (Family)
YumiCallaway wrote:
Yesterday
Thanks Emma, I'll confirm at genus then, and check for species level ID later.
Tharpyna sp. (genus)
NateKingsford wrote:
Yesterday
I was thinking Sparassid as well, @EathanDouglas thoughts?
Sparassidae (family)
EmmaCollins wrote:
Yesterday
I think you're right with Tharpyna @YumiCallaway
Tharpyna sp. (genus)
EmmaCollins wrote:
Yesterday
It might be predating on something inside the leaf, this looks like a Badumna sp. to me.
Badumna sp. (genus)

Recent activity

Argoctenus sp. (genus)

Plebs bradleyi

Thomisidae (family)

Opisthoncus sp. (genus) at Lerida, NSW

Dolophones sp. (genus) at Brownlow Hill, NSW

Clynotis severus

Maratus plumosus at Oaks Estate, ACT

Maratus proszynskii at Oaks Estate, ACT

Euophryinae sp. (Rockhopper) undescribed at Oaks Estate, ACT

Hortophora sp. (genus) at North Lakes, QLD

Species Richness Score (SRS)

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1,905,433 sightings of 21,334 species from 13,137 contributors
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