Tamopsis bradycauda

Fact Box Species: Tamopsis bradycauda (ID source as shown below) Family: Hersiliidae Body length: female: 3 mm male: 2.6 mm Habitat: Hersiliids normally live on dry bark that matches their colour Toxicity: Too small to be dangerous

The identity of the spider presented above is would be difficult because there are many Australian Tamopsis species and they all look much the same. However, Tamopsis bradycauda is unique in having a small sharp 'hump' in the centre of the dorsal abdomen. This distinguishing feature is described in the following published paper: B. Baehr and M. Baehr (1987) "The Australian Hersiliidae (Arachnida: Araneae): Taxonomy, Philogeny, Zoogeography" Invertebrate Taxonomy 1, 351-437.

Like all Tamopsis species this spider has a pair of very long spinnerets and body surfaces that are very similar in appearance to the bark they are normally resting on. This makes them very hard to find. More ovbious are their small round egg sacs which are suspended from a twig by a thick strand of silk.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Tamopsis fickerti and other Tamopsis species.