Intruda signata?

Fact Box Species: Intruda signata? (ID is as suggested by Dr Robert Raven, Queensland Museum, but see notes below) Family: Gnaphosidae Body length: female: perhaps 8 mm male: perhaps 7 mm Habitat: This species is believed to be a ground-dwelling spider mostly found in dry grass or leaf litter or under rocks and logs Toxicity: The toxicity of the venom of this species is completely unknown

Front view

The identity of this spider, at least to the species level, is made somewhat uncertain by the fact that the original description and naming of this species occurred more than 100 years ago and is now very difficult to access. A distinguishing feature of this spider is its pattern of abdominal chevrons, which is unusual for a gnaphosid species. In all other respects this spider has the typical appearance of members of the Family Gnaphosidae, including a pair of wide-set spinnerets. The internet contains a photo labelled Intruda signata and provided by Phil Sirvid of the TERRAIN organisation of New Zealand as well as one on the Tasmanian Spiders website. In both cases the spider's abdomen contains three pale chevrons and the spider's general shape and appearance are essentially the same as those of the spider shown above. However, the other abdominal markings are not a perfect match and the significance of this is unknown.

Known Range: Intruda signata has been found in South-east Queensland, Eastern NSW and Victoria, in Tasmania and Adelaide, and in the South-west corner of WA.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: A variety of species from several different families.