Artema atlanta

Fact Box Species: Artema atlanta (ID based on the paper by Beatty, Berry and Huber) Family: Pholcidae Body length: female: 10 mm male: 9.5 mm Habitat: This cosmopolitan species is often found in houses and was probably carried into Australia on man-made objects Toxicity: Uncertain; probably only able to cause local inflammation

View from above Side view Closer side view Female epigynum

Pholcids are often difficult to identify to genus and species without the aid of a stereo microscope because most of the distinguishing characteristics of each species cannot be seen without magnification. It is claimed that Artema atlanta is probably the largest pholcid species found in Australia but of course this means little unless the specimen being examined is first proven to be an adult. The spider presented on this page has abdominal markings similar to those shown for Artema atlanta by Beatty, Berry and Huber but it should be noted that the markings on individual A. atlanta specimens can vary somewhat and those of some other pholcid genera, including Wugigarra and Trichocyclus species, are reasonably similar.

On an adult male of this species the palpal femur (the first obvious segment next to the spider's body - see Beatty, Berry and Huber's 2008 paper) is grossly swollen when compared with that on other pholcids and this characteristic is useful for identification purposes.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Physocyclus globosus.