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Amyciaea albomaculata
Fact Box
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Species: |
Amyciaea albomaculata (RM)
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Body length: |
female: 7 mm
male: 6 mm
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Habitat: |
This species is usually found only in the evenings when it will probably be hanging from a strand of silk in a rainforest environment where green tree
ants are present. Its green and tan colour scheme closely matches that of green tree ants because it normally only lives where these ants occur and is claimed to feed
almost exclusively on them
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Toxicity: |
Unknown but this species probably presents no significant hazard for humans
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Distinguishing features of this spider are its body shape and colour scheme which mimic those of a green tree-ant species that is common in
Northern Australia, the two black 'false eyes' on its abdomen, two pairs of large, black lateral eyes on the spider's head, and Amyciaea's tendency to
hang on a strand of silk by its fourth pair of legs with the first two pairs extended sideways ready to capture any ants that come near it.
Amyciaea and the theridiid(?), Propostira quadrangulata?, have a very similar appearance, presumably because they are both attempting to mimic the same green tree-ant
species. The most useful visible differences between these two spiders are that Amyciaea has large lateral eyes whereas Propostira's eyes are all
relatively small, and there are only two black false eyes on the abdomen of Amyciaea but Propostira quadrangulata has four of these. In addition P. quadrangulata is believed
to run with the green tree-ants rather than hang from a strand of silk as Amyciaea does.
Known range: Found only in Northern Australia from Broome to Arnhem Land and from Cape York down to Bowen.
Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Propostira quadrangulata? species.
Email Ron Atkinson for more information.
Last updated 22 Janaury 2022.
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