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

Opisthoncus sp. (genus) (Unidentified Opisthoncus jumping spider) at O'Connor, ACT by ConBoekel
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Arkys) at Acton, ACT by TimL
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 sp. (genus) (Badge huntsman) at Chisholm, ACT by RomanSoroka
Austracantha minax (Christmas Spider, Jewel Spider) at Higgins, ACT by Untidy
Unidentified Orb-weaving spider (several families) 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) (Unidentified Opisthoncus jumping spider) at Kambah, ACT by HelenCross
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
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Arkys) at Acton, ACT by TimL
Thomisidae (family) (Unidentified Crab spider or Flower spider) at Acton, ACT by TimL
Sparassidae (family) (A Huntsman Spider) at Yarralumla, ACT by TimL
Ocrisiona sp. (genus) (Unidentified wasp mimic) at Holder, ACT by Seh
Tamopsis eucalypti (A two-tailed spider) at Acton, ACT by TimL
Arkys walckenaeri (Triangle spider) 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
Isopeda canberrana (Canberra Huntsman Spider) at Forde, ACT by TimL
Thomisidae (family) (Unidentified Crab spider or Flower spider) at Hughes, ACT by LisaH
Tetragnatha sp. (genus) (Long-jawed spider) at Yaouk, NSW by AlisonMilton
Tamopsis sp. (genus) (Two-tailed spider) at Goulburn, NSW by Hejor1
Araneus circulissparsus (species group) (Speckled Orb-weaver) at Goulburn, NSW by Hejor1
Phonognathidae (family) (Leaf curling orb-weavers) at Goulburn, NSW by Hejor1
Araneus sp. (genus) at Goulburn, NSW by Hejor1
Salsa fuliginata at Goulburn, NSW by Hejor1
Zodariidae (family) (Ant spider or Spotted ground spider) at Bruce, ACT by NateKingsford
Delena cancerides (Social huntsman spider) at Aranda, ACT by NateKingsford
Tasmanicosa sp. (genus) (Tasmanicosa wolf spider) at Aranda, ACT by NateKingsford
Trichonephila edulis (Golden orb weaver) at Bruce, ACT by NateKingsford
Venator spenceri (Hunter) at Bruce, ACT by NateKingsford
Neosparassus calligaster (Beautiful Badge Huntsman) at Bruce, ACT by NateKingsford
Unidentified Jumping or peacock spider (Salticidae) at Aranda, ACT by Jubeyjubes
Cryptachaea veruculata (Diamondback comb-footed spider) at Belconnen, ACT by JohnGiacon
Opisthoncus sp. (genus) (Unidentified Opisthoncus jumping spider) at Acton, ACT by ConBoekel
Unidentified Huntsman spider (Sparassidae) at Melba, ACT by kasiaaus
Plebs bradleyi (Enamelled spider) at Bungonia, NSW by AlisonMilton
Maratus griseus (Jumping spider) at Higgins, ACT by AlisonMilton
Thomisus spectabilis (Spectacular Crab Spider) at Wollogorang, NSW by trevorpreston
Opisthoncus sp. (genus) (Unidentified Opisthoncus jumping spider) at Lerida, NSW by trevorpreston
Clynotis severus (Stern Jumping Spider) at Carwoola, NSW by clarehoneydove
Opisthoncus sexmaculatus (Six-marked jumping spider) at Tarago, NSW by clarehoneydove
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
Lehtinelagia prasina (Leek-green flower spider) at Captains Flat, NSW by Csteele4
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
Apricia jovialis (Jovial jumping spider) at Mitchell, ACT by SteveBorkowskis
Tasmanicosa sp. (genus) (Tasmanicosa wolf spider) at Snowy Plain, NSW by jpittock
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
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
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

Moderators

YumiCallaway
NateKingsford
EmmaCollins
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Announcements

Discussion

Vitrum wrote:
Yesterday
I believe this genera is now Tharrhalea
Lehtinelagia prasina
NateKingsford wrote:
17 Jan 2025
Not the most confident that it's a Badumna, but hard to tell as it's very young
Desidae (Family)
YumiCallaway wrote:
17 Jan 2025
Thanks Emma, I'll confirm at genus then, and check for species level ID later.
Tharpyna sp. (genus)
NateKingsford wrote:
17 Jan 2025
I was thinking Sparassid as well, @EathanDouglas thoughts?
Sparassidae (family)
EmmaCollins wrote:
17 Jan 2025
I think you're right with Tharpyna @YumiCallaway
Tharpyna sp. (genus)

Recent activity

Opisthoncus sp. (genus) at O'Connor, ACT

Arkys curtulus at Acton, ACT

Arkys curtulus at Acton, ACT

Salticidae (family) at Borough, NSW

Apricia jovialis at Borough, NSW

Salticidae (family) at Borough, NSW

Delena cancerides at Borough, NSW

Holconia sp. (genus) at Borough, NSW

Mituliodon tarantulinus at Dunlop, ACT

Neosparassus calligaster at Russell, ACT

Species Richness Score (SRS)

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1,907,015 sightings of 21,364 species from 13,173 contributors
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