Isala cambridgei

Fact Box Species: Isala cambridgei (see source of revised name below) formerly Stephanopis cambridgei Family: Thomisidae Body length: female: 11 mm male: 8 mm Habitat: On or under the bark of trees, especially in eucalypt forests, the spider's colour and surface texture matching that of the bark Toxicity: Thought to be harmless to humans but treat with caution

Side view

For many years this spider was known as Stephanopis cambridgei but in 2021 the following paper was published: Machado M. and Teixeira R.A. "Phylogenetic relationships in Stephanopinae: systematics of Stephanopis and Sidymella based on morphological characters (Araneae: Thomisidae)" and in this the authors changed the name of Stephanopis cambridgei to Isala cambridgei because of its similarities with Isala punctata, first described by L. Koch in 1876.

Known range: This species is quite common in near-coastal parts of Australia, including Cairns, all of South-east Queensland and NSW, Victoria and Tasmania as well as Adelaide.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: A few other Isala and Stephanopis species.