Cryptachaea gigantipes

Fact Box Species: Cryptachaea gigantipes (Identification: see below) Family: Theridiidae Body length: female: 6 mm male: 6 mm Habitat: This species frequently builds small tangled webs in or on man-made constructions such as verandahs Toxicity: Not known to be dangerous to humans

Front view Close view Another male

The identity of this spider is derived from the information and images in the following paper: Smith HM, Vink CJ, Fitzgerald BM, and Sirvid PJ (2012) "Redescription and generic placement of the spider Cryptacheae gigantipes (Keyserling, 1890) (Araneae: Theridiidae) and notes on related synanthropic species in Australia" 3507, 38-56.

Known range: Found mostly in houses and other buildings from Bundaberg down to Melbourne and across to Tasmania and to Adelaide.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Parasteatoda tepidariorum and some other small theridiids.