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Amyciaea albomaculata

Fact Box Species: Amyciaea albomaculata (RM) Family: Thomisidae Body length: female: 7 mm male: 6 mm 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 Toxicity: Unknown but this species probably presents no significant hazard for humans

Another specimen With its prey On support thread With its egg sac

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.