Arkys lancearius

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Arkys lancearius
At Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Arkyidae
Genus: Arkys
Species:
A. lancearius
Binomial name
Arkys lancearius

Arkys lancearius, the triangular spider,[2] is a common Australian spider belonging to the family Arkyidae.[1] It is an ambush hunter, commonly found resting on leaves and ferns or hanging from just a few threads of silk. The front two pairs of legs are large, suited for grabbing small insects, while the rear pairs of legs are much smaller.[3]

Description and habit[edit]

The body length of males is about 5.5 millimetres (0.22 in), while that of females are around 8 millimetres (0.31 in). Body colour varies from yellow or orange to red with pale jewel-like markings on the heart shaped abdomen. Egg sacs are produced in January or February and are a deep pinkish cream colour. They are usually around 8 mm in diameter and are covered in lighter coloured threads. Each sac contains about 70 eggs, each 0.7 mm in diameter.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Taxon details Arkys lancearius Walckenaer, 1837". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  2. ^ "Arkys lancearius Walckenaer, 1837 Common Triangular Spider". Retrieved 2019-04-22.
  3. ^ Heimer, S. (1984). "Remarks on the spider genus Arcys Walckenaer, 1837, with description of new species (Araneae, Mimetidae)". Entomologische Abhandlungen, Staatliches Museum für Tierkunde Dresden. 47: 155–178.
  4. ^ Mascord, Ramon (1970). Australian Spiders in Colour. Tuttle. p. 96. ISBN 0730102912.