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Small bird dung spider
Fact Box
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Species: |
Arkys curtulus (RM, WSC)
(formerly Archemorus curtulus) or a closely related species
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Body length: |
female: 8 mm
male: 5 mm
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Habitat: |
On the exposed surfaces of green leaves; no webbing is present, spider ambushing its prey
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Toxicity: |
This timid species may be too small to harm a human
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This spider varies in colour and is sometimes totally black (the melanic form). In most instances it has some resemblance to a bird dropping, the legs and most of the body being black but the two abdominal 'wings' white. Because of this camouflage effect, it can often be found motionless on the surface of a leaf waiting for unsuspecting insects to land.
Known Range: This species is known to be present in coastal parts of Eastern Australia from Cairns down to Melbourne and across to Tasmania.
Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Celaenia excavata, Celaenia calotoides and Dolophones conifera.
Email Ron Atkinson for more information.
Last updated 7 January 2022.
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