Arachnura higginsi
| Arachnura higginsi | |
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| Tailed Spider | |
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| Species: | A. higginsi
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| Binomial name | |
| Arachnura higginsi (Koch, 1872)
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| Synonyms | |
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Epeira higginsii | |
Arachnura higginsi, known as the Tailed Spider or Scorpion Tailed Spider is a common Australian spider belonging to the family Araneidae. It occurs in many parts of Australia.
Description and Habit
The body length of males is 2 mm and females around 16 mm. Body colour varies from cream, orange to brown. The tiny male does not possess a tail. The prominent tail is somewhat similar to a scorpion, though harmless. The web is near ground level, on an angle or sometimes horizontal. Small flying insects are the usual prey.
Egg sacs number up to eight. They are oval in shape, 5 mm x 4 mm of tough, brown silk with a woolly appearance. Eggs are creamy, 0.8mm in diameter, 50 to 60 in number, not sticky.
References
- Australian Spiders in Colour - Ramon Mascord 1970 SBN 589 07065 7
- Platnick, Norman I. (2009): The world spider catalog, version 9.5. American Museum of Natural History.