Widespread and common, body length of females possibly to 15 mm, males to 12 mm, both usually smaller. Known from Queensland and NSW but probably will be found Australia wide including islands. The male may be currently known as Opisthoncus mordax. They are quite variable in appearance and size, being mostly light brown with strong white markings and darker markings like a series of paisley teardrops running down the abdomen, resulting in the centre being a median white patterned lengthways figure. Like O. mordax they have a patch of white hair on the trailing edge of the carapace. Legs 1 and 2 are stronger and longer than the others and have three pairs of ventral tibial giant spiny hairs (marcosetae) and two pairs on the underneath of the metatarsus. The legs appear banded. This spider is one of the most common jumpers on foliage in gardens and nearby bushland. Peter Chew notes that in China they are known as "pussy-cat spiders" due to their pretty face, big eyes, and inquisitive nature. They build silk egg sacs in leaves and under bark, often creating a retreat in a curled living leaf. Named by Koch in 1880, the species name means having relatively few teeth. They are similar to the smaller, more often yellow, O. polyphemus, which is recognizable in the females by large blobs of black encircling the eyes. The teeth, as suggested by the name, are relatively scarce, though the Laidley example has more than shown in the literature. It has a semi-double pointed large tooth, and two smaller teeth below on the retromargin and two widely separated small teeth on the promargin. The 1989 Zabka drawing does not have the extra teeth below the large double-pointed one.
- Female, facing camera
- Female with very large abdomen, from above
- Female from above
- Female from above
- Female about 9mm body length from above
- Female about 9mm body length face on
- Curled live-leaf retreat
- Female from Bribie Island
- Epigynum
- Female, from below
- Female from above
- Female from above
- Female adult, body length 12mm, from Laidley, Qld, from above
- Female adult, Laidley, facing, leg waving
- Female adult, Laidley, facing
- Female adult, Laidley, from above
- Female adult, Laidley, epigynum
- Female adult, Laidley, epigynum
- Female adult, Laidley, fang, teeth
- Female adult, Laidley, fang, teeth
- References
Female, facing camera
Female with very large abdomen, from above
Body length about 12mm.
Female from above
Female from above
Female about 9mm body length from above
Female about 9mm body length face on
Curled live-leaf retreat
The spider in the two photos above was guarding eggs in a curled leaf on an Australian Lime (Citrus australis).
Female from Bribie Island
This specimen is a very good match for the diagnostic drawings in the species description.
Epigynum
Female, from below
Female from above
Female from above
Female adult, body length 12mm, from Laidley, Qld, from above
Thanks to Martin Stevens for this specimen.
Female adult, Laidley, facing, leg waving
Female adult, Laidley, facing
Female adult, Laidley, from above
Female adult, Laidley, epigynum
Female adult, Laidley, epigynum
Female adult, Laidley, fang, teeth
Female adult, Laidley, fang, teeth
Female adult, Laidley, fang, teeth
References
- The World Spider Catalog, V9.0 - by N. I. Platnick © 2000 - 2008 AMNH
- The Find-a-spider Guide by Dr Ron Atkinson - University of Southern Queensland
A guide to spiders in South-east Queensland - Spiders of Australia: An Introduction to their Classification, Biology and Distribution: Trevor J. Hawkeswood - New and used through ABE Books
- Australian Spiders in Colour by Ramon Mascord - New and used through ABE Books ISBN: 0589070657 / 0-589-07065-7
- Davies T. V., Zabka M. 1989. - Illustrated keys to the genera of jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae) in Australia. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, Brisbane, 27: 189-266
- Spiders of Australia : a Field Guide by Ramon Mascord - ABE BOOKS (ISBN: 0589502646 / 0-589-50264-6)
- Brisbane Insects and Spiders Home Page - Comprehensive. Wonderful photos and descriptions. CD Rom available.