Oecobius marathias

Fact Box Species: Oecobius marathaus QM) (formerly known as Oecobius inopinatus) Family: Oecobiidae Body length: female: 3 mm male: 2.5 mm Habitat: In stacked timber or a tiny web in the architraves of house ceilings or along outside brickwork Toxicity: This species is probably far too small to be hazardous to humans and not at all aggressive

Front view Side view Its retreat

The spider on this page is shown as Oecobius marathaus above but there is not much readily available information or images to confirm it to species level. In Australia the only two known members of the Family Oecobiidae are Oecobius navus and Oecobius marathaus, the latter being initially named O. inopinatus in 1995. O. navus is a well known cosmopolitan species that was undoubtedly introduced into Australia when Europeans colonized this country, On the other hand, O. marathaus was thought to be endemic to Australia but now is alleged to be found in India and possibly some other countries.

Oecobiids are so small that they are often mistaken for pieces of dust. Their most distinctive characteristic is the fact that the legs tend to point forwards or sideways then curve backwards at their tips.

Known Range: This is a very rare species in Australia but examples apparently have been found near Broome, Cairns, Rockhampton, the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, and Melbourne.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Oecobius navus.