Long-jawed spider

Fact Box Species: Tetragnatha demissa (RM) Family: Tetragnathidae Body length: female: 15 mm male: 11 mm Habitat: This species typically builds a small roughly circular web in green shrubs, especially near water courses, but may also be found lying along dead twigs or strands of fencing wire with not much webbing present Toxicity: Uncertain; this is not an aggressive spider despite the fearsome appearance of the palps

An active female In its web Juvenile female Under female

These spiders have very long, slender legs that are often arranged fore and aft along wires or branches when the spiders are resting. The palps are unusually large and often have bizarre shapes.

Known Range: This is rcorded as being over almost all of Australia and Tasmania, including many inland areas.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Tetragnatha bituberculata and other Tetragnatha species.