Thomisus spectabilis

1 Spectacular Crab Spider at Acton, ACT

Request use of media

Identification history

Thomisus spectabilis	26 Dec 2019	MichaelMulvaney
Thomisus spectabilis	4 Dec 2019	MichaelMulvaney
Thomisidae (family)	4 Dec 2019	Harrisi

Identify this sighting

Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

7 comments

YumiCallaway wrote:

5 Dec 2019

I don't think it's Thomisus spectabilis because (through the use of external sources) their abdomen isn't rounded like this one, instead having two lumps on either side which seem quite prominent. Here are some photos: http://www.arachne.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=1031
On the other hand, Zygometis xanthogaster seems to fit in with this individual: a little bit of orange hairs on the face, fully rounded abdomen with a distinct dark spot in the upper middle and light smaller ones neatly arranged towards the middle and back. (https://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:43b8c120-398f-413e-ab0f-81f58344c598#gallery)
While on this topic, I feel some of the sightings under Thomisus spectabilis have been incorrectly identified: at a quick glance, they look like Zygometis zanthogaster.

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

6 Dec 2019

Yumi - happy for you to take the lead but this reference states that Zygometris xanthogaster has brown stripes on its head.
http://www.arachne.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=1942
Of the sightings submitted only that of Cath has the brown stripes

YumiCallaway wrote:

6 Dec 2019

Sorry, I based my decision on the images from ALA: some of them look exactly like this one! Does that mean these are still Thomiscus spectabilis though? All the images from external sources that I can find have the lifted segments on both sides of the abdomen and isn't fully rounded while this and the other few sightings are.

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

6 Dec 2019

Not sure maybe Stuart or Andrew O can help?

YumiCallaway wrote:

6 Dec 2019

Ok. And also, is the brown striping on the head a 'must'? Some individuals on ALA for example seem to have lighter stripes so maybe not having any stripes is a possibility? Like it might be that immatures haven't developed the stripes??

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

6 Dec 2019

ALA is a bit of buyer beware in its sightings and use of photos so perhaps not a good source to base an ID on

YumiCallaway wrote:

6 Dec 2019

Alright, I'll keep that in mind for future references, thank you!

Please Login or Register to comment.