Tamopsis fickerti
Two-tailed spider at Acton, ACT
Identify this sighting
| Tamopsis fickerti | NateKingsford | Yesterday | |
| Tamopsis sp. (genus) | TimL | Yesterday |
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3 comments
Yesterday
@NateKingsford Nate, I'm puzzled as to why some Tamopsis are IDed as T. fickerti or T. eucalpti. According to Google, it requires microscopic evidence. Separating T. eucalypti and T. fickerti by eye in the wild is extremely difficult. Both show wide variations in grey, brown, and black tones to match their specific tree trunk backgrounds (such as dark forms on fire-charred trees). Precise identification usually requires microscopic examination of genital structures by an arachnologist.
Yesterday
Hey @AlisonMilton, the ACT only has 2 species, which can be distinguished by the colouration. Most of the Tamopsis species would need to be examined under a microscope, yes. T. fickerti always has the dark 'stripes' down the side and the middle, no matter where it is found. T. eucalypti is always pale with no real discerning patterns. If this spider was found elsewhere, I'd be hesitant to ID it to species level, however I'm very familiar with the species within the ACT. I'm not sure if you're familiar, but that's a website called "World Spider Catalogue", it contains basically all scientific papers regarding spiders. This would be a much better place to get info rather than just a Google search, however I do get the convenience of it
Yesterday
@NateKingsford Thanks Nate. The clarification is great as I think some of my sightings may have a mix of the two spiders where I have found them in the same area or on the same tree. I looked at a Wiki site so thanks for the reference to World Spider Catalogue. I'll try to differentiate the two.
Location information
- Coordinates 149.107075-35.275258
- Altitude 623.5m
- Maps ANBG
- Places Acton, ACT
Sighting information
- 1 Abundance
- 26 Sep 2026 10:11 AM Recorded on
- TimL Recorded by
Collections
- TimL NatureMapr Canberra & Southern Tablelands Latest Other hunting spiders Spiders Tamopsis fickerti
Species information
- Tamopsis fickerti Scientific name
- Two-tailed spider Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 718.5m Recorded at altitude
- External link More information
Record quality
Quality score
4 / 7
- Images or audio
- More than one media file
- Verified by an expert moderator
- GPS evidence of location
- Nearby sighting(s) of same species
- Description
- Additional attributes