Ellura Sanctuary, Swan Reach, SA, 5354
                      
These identifications have been gleaned from images only, not examination of specimens, so we use the identifier "cf" to indicate "species looks like"
Stat'NotesThumbnails: 848.   129 native species listed, with 115 from Ellura
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Spiders, Scorpions, Mites & Ticks (Arachnida)
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Mouse Spider
:Mygalomorph Actinopodidae
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Red-headed Mouse Spider
Missulena occatoria
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Only the much smaller males have the red head/carpace & chelicerae while the females primarily black, occasionally with red chelicerae. The chelicerae are huge, compared to the body size, making them look quite fearful.
We don't see them often but finally caught one yesterday, to measure it's vitals and then released. The male weighed 0.1gms, and only ~10mm long (head & body). The male palps have an obviously red papal bulb & long embolus. It has short spinnerets and hairy black legs. The carpace & cephalothorax are smooth/hairless, while the abdomen has short hairs & is blue; of all things. This genus has a very widely spread eye arrangment, unusual for a mygalomorph. 6 of the eyes are shaded by black, while 2 with none are difficult to see.

They are an "old world" (or primative) spider partially because their fangs point down. This is considered to be a less efficient killing machine. Modern day spiders were designed with hi-tech sideways pointed fangs, not needing to lift the head to kill it's prey.
Red headed mouse spiders don't use their venom very much (according to Qld Museum); thankfully as they are as toxic as it's cousin the Sydney Funnel Web. Funnel Web Spider anti-venom works as well. But it's best not to get bitten in the first place.
Imaged in Apr, May, Jun & Jul.
************************************************
Humans do get very emotional about spiders. With the Red-Back & Sydney Funnel Web given a special place in our culture (they are the most dangerous spiders in the world), but the Funnel web has only about 13 deaths recorded against it (ever). In fact, only 27 fatalities from all spiders in Australia (mainly children, sick & ederly). 138 shark fatalities. About 1 snake fatality a year. At least these animals were here first. Yet 10 people every year die in Australia from introduced European Honey Bees, and somehow people think of them in such a positive way?
************************************************
S3, Male, dorsal
🔍S2, Male, close up
S3, Male, profile
🔍S3, Male, Head
S3, Male, anterior
S3, Male, Eye Arrangement
S3, Male, Pedipalp bulb
S3, Male, Pedipalp embolus
S3, Male, Spinnerets
S3, Male, Foot claws
S3, Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Mouse Spider
:Mygalomorph Actinopodidae
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Mouse Spider
Missulena sp ES01
Na
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We thought this was a Red-headed Mouse Spider, but then found a paper & key that showed there are a number of similar species; colour is diagnostic.
As such, the dark colour of the head means it can't be M. occatoria. This key is hard to decipher.
We think the "pars" means "side of". This is the only photo which we can find to describe the "pars" terms.
Our sighting matches Volker's image, but is wrong location, so more work to try and decipher.
Male, Dorsal
Male, Fangs
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Mouse Spider
:Mygalomorph Actinopodidae
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Brown Mouse Spider
Missulena sp ES02


iNaturalist
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Thank you CesDaMess for confirming the id of this species for us

There two unusual aspects of this specimen.
1. It's brown. But there are brown mouse spiders out there. They just don't seem to be noticed as much.
2. It's a female. Now typically these are only seen when someone has accidentally dug up their burrow.
But we found this one just walking around in the daytime. Perhaps a bird dug up it's borrow? It is injured, with a big gash on it's head.
🔍Female, dorsal
🔍Female, anterior
🔍Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Brush-footed Spider
:Mygalomorph Barychelidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Goldback
Idiommata sp ES01
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A large spider that weighed in at 0.58 grams, 20mm long.
You can see the hoof like brushed feet in the dorsal shot. Even their palps have brushed "feet".
Unlike most other spiders, these have their eyes very close together.
Mygalomorphs have 4 lungs, rather than 2 as in modern spiders. You can see them in the ventral shots as the light colours bulges on the abdomen.
We have only found male Mygalomorphs as they go out looking for a mate. The females generally stay hidden in their burrow.
Imaged 1 male in Jul.
Dorsal
Anterior
Palps
Profile
Eye Arrangement in Profile
Anterior Eye Arrangement
Ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Brush-footed Spider
:Mygalomorph Barychelidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Silver-back
Idiommata sp ES02


iNaturalist
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Thank you Joshua Gan for confirming the id of this species for us

~25mm long, ~60mm legspan.
Imaged 1 in May.
🔍Male, dorsal
🔍Male, profile
🔍Male, Eye Arrangment, dorsal
🔍Male, Eye Arrangment, anterior
🔍Male, Stretched Leg
🔍Male, Palp & Tibial Spur
🔍Male, Brushed Feet & Leg Pads
🔍Male, Spinnerets
🔍Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Spiny Trapdoor Spider
:Mygalomorph Idiopidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Armoured Trapdoor Spider
Idiosoma sp
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Other Common NameArmored Trapdoor Spider

Thank you Joshua Gan for identifying this species for us

A medium sized spider that weighed in at 0.37 grams, 15mm long. We are confident it's mature as you can see the pedipalp bulb, etc.
This species has an unusual double tibial spur near it's kneeds on it's front legs.
Unlike most other spiders, but typical amoung Mygalomorphs, these have their eyes very close together.
We thought this was Adelaide's Trapdoor Spider (Blakistonia aurea). Joshua said "Eye arrangement and presence of sigillae on abdomen suggest Idiosoma instead of Blakistonia". The sigillae are the little round pale spots on top of the abdomen.
Imaged 1 male in Jul.
Male, Dorsal
🔍Male, Closer
Male, Profile
Male, Anterior
Male, Palp
Male, Double Spur
Male, Eye Arrangement, profile
Male, Eye Arrangement, dorsal
Male, Ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Wishbone Spider
:Mygalomorph Nemesiidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Black Wishbone Spider
Aname sp ES01
Na
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Other Common NameSilverback

Thank you Mark Newton & Cael Gallery for identifying this species for us

We thought both our Aname were Proshermacha sp, but Cael said "Proshermacha are very, very bright metallic; and i've never found one in such a dry area."
Male, profile, ~25-30mm
Male, anterior
Male, posterior
Male, Tibial Spur & Brush Pad
Male, Spinnerets - used to line burrow
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Wishbone Spider
:Mygalomorph Nemesiidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Golden Wishbone Spider
Aname sp ES02
Na
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Thank you Cael Gallery for identifying this species for us
 
Male, dorsal, ~12mm
Male, profile, released
Male, eye arrangement + tibial spur
Male, fangs + palp
Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Twig Spider
Acroaspis olorina


iNaturalist
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Thank you Michael Gasteracantha for identifying this species for us

There are 4 Orb genera with these twig appendages
1. Dolophones: The twig is at the front of the abdomen, and a "proper" sized abdomen - so not that
2. Heurodes: there is confusion about synonymy with Acroaspis. Until Atlas changes we will accept there are still 2 genera. It's too small, doesn't have the turret head and doesn't have the "bulge" underneath. So not that
3. Poltys: Well the twig is scruffy, but the legs are similar. We still don't have the bulge underneath. The back is ribbed. It says their eyes are widely spread. Ok, clearly not that one
4. Finally here we see 2 groups of 3 eyes on each side of the head that nearly touch, then one eye on each side below that group.
One thing not stated anywhere was it can lay it's abdomen down to look like a long spider, rather than an upright twig. The top of the abdomen is straight, but under is a lovely smooth curve to the "bulge" at the bottom.
Profile, walking
Profile, cowering
Front
Dorsal
Flat, ~8mm
Adult, Male, Eye arrangement + Palps
Ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Speckled Orbweaver
Araneus circulissparsus


iNaturalist
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Other Common NameGreen Orb Spider

Thank you Reiner Richter for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Dorsal
Anterior
🔍Posterior
Spinnerets
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Slender Green Orb Spider
Araneus talipedatus


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Anthony Paul & Suzanne and Jim for confirming the id of this species for us

On first spotting this pretty lady, we thought it was a Lynx spider; due to the spikey legs. Turned out to be an orb spider. It's well camouflaged in green ivy leaves; but has a very small web.
In females, the epigyne has a long scape (a tongue-like appendage), or "epigeal scape".
🔍Female, ~6mm, + web
Female, eye arrangement
Female, hairy & spiky legs
Female, camouflage
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Long-tailed Orb-weaving Spider
Argiope protensa


iNaturalist
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SynonymArgiope extensa

Other Common NamesTailed Forest Spider or Teardrop Spider

Thank you Matthew Connors, David Muirhead & Natasha (Ethmostigmus) for confirming the id of this species for us

Probably the most varied invert we come across; variations in colour pattern & body shape - occuring in one individual at times. Spiders can also "shrivel up" when hungry or just laid eggs, in this case giving them a blunt tailed apprearance rather than the typical pointy tail we see in photo's.
We have tried to highlight how each individual can change it's stripes and tail length. Please note specimen ids (S1, S2, etc) to compare the differences that occur within one individual.
We suspect the stripe change is to do with breathing; perhaps blowing it'self up in some defensive mechanism?
The males have quite different palps. It's quite possible they are different species as the palps are diagnostic in male spiders. It may also be a juvenile vs mature specimen variation. Or some damage caused due to breeding?
Recently it was recognised that A. protensa & A. extensa are actually the same species.
With the "tail" being able to be retracted, size is a difficult thing to compare. Should probably do the same as reptiles & measure to the vent; or spinnerets in this case.
They range in size from ~3mm for the Juvi, ~4-6mm for the males, ~6-18mm for other females. 3 to 18mm is an extreme size variation for spiders, again suggesting different species or unusual for spiders in that juveniles look identical to adults; which goes against the notion these vary so much

We've had a female living in our shade house, whose grown dramatically over the last 2 weeks; she's now the biggest we've measured at ~18mm long (S17). We've now seen with her that the highly reflective/silver colour are silver hairs. Notice her large "epigeal scape".
On the same day we caught a male (S16) which shows they are quite crab-spider like.
Imaged 16 (3M) in Jan, Feb, Apr, May, Jul, Aug, Oct, Nov & Dec.
S2 Female, dorsal
S3 Female, dorsal
🔍S7 Juvi Female, dorsal
🔍S8 Female, with nest, dorsal
S9 Male, dorsal, narrow stripe
S9 Male, dorsal, wide stripe
S10 Male, dorsal
S10 Male, dorsal, close up
S11 Female, dorsal, wide stripe
S11 Female, dorsal, narrow stripe
S12 Female, dorsal
🔍S16 Male, dorsal, crab-spider like
🔍S16 Male, dorsal, close up
🔍S17 Female, dorsal
🔍S17 Female, dorsal, Silvery Hair
🔍S8 Female, with nest, profile
S9 Male, profile
S10 Male, profile
S10 Male, profile, close up
🔍S17 Female, profile
S10 Male, Palps
🔍S16 Male, Palps, anterior
S9 Male, Eye Arrangement
S10 Male, Eye Arrangement & Palps
S11 Female, Eye Arrangement, anterior
S11 Female, Eye Arrangement, dorsal
S12 Female, Eye Arrangement
🔍S16 Male, Eye Arrangement & Palps
🔍S8 Nest, dorsal
🔍S8 Nest, profile
S3 Female, ventral
🔍S7 Juvi Female, ventral
🔍S8 Female, with nest, ventral
S9 Male, ventral
S10 Male, ventral
S11 Female, ventral, long tail
S11 Female, ventral, short tail
S12 Female, ventral
S16 Male, ventral
🔍S17 Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Banded Orb Spider
Argiope trifasciata


iNaturalist
Na
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Thank you Matthew Connors & Anthony Paul for confirming the id of this species for us

She was a large lady, ~13mm, almost as big as an Australian Orb.
With many spiders the ventral patterns are more diagnostic than the dorsal pattern. Like red backs can have very variable colours on top, but always a red hour-glass under.
Here the ventral patterns are very typical of this species, but the dorsal shot is more washed out than any we can find. They usually have dark bands across the abdomen, but here, she's very silvery all over.
She built her web in Porcupine Grass (Triodia scariosa) and dropped down amoungst the needles when we approached.
Female, dorsal, close up
🔍Female, dorsal
🔍Female, Orb Web
🔍Female, Legs, ventrally
Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Bush Orb-weaver
Backobourkia sp ES01
Na
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Other Common NameGarden Orb-weaver

These spiders have some large projections on their back (3 main ones) that are nearly impossible to see unless viewed in profile.
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Flat-backed Orb-weaver
Backobourkia sp ES02


iNaturalist
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Thank you Caitlin Henderson for identifying and Suzanne and Jim for confirming the id of this species for us

~13mm long. We thought it was Eriophora biapicata.
Caitlin said "The reduced humps are a puzzle."
Suzanne & Jim said "It's easy to see the way the scape kinks up and back down right at the end, something you see in Backobourkia."
🔍Female, dorsal
🔍Female, Eye Arrangement
🔍Female, Abdomen
🔍Female, Scape
🔍Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Grey Orb-weaver
Backobourkia sp ES03


iNaturalist
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~11mm long Juvenile Female.
Imaged 1 Juv. Female in Jan
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Palp
🔍Anterior
🔍Ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Twig Wrap-around Spider
Dolophones cf turrigera


iNaturalist
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Thank you Anthony Paul & Suzanne and Jim for confirming the id of this species for us

Volker Framenau said: "These may not be Dolophones turrigera, the genus is completely unresolved and the turret like outgrowths on the abdomen are highly variable. Only examination of the genitalia will get you to a species identification."

When photographing wrap arounds we've found they relax if you put a stick in the box with them.
Profile
Back
Dorsal
Profile
Front
Ventral, ~6mm long, ~4mm wide
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Black-striped Wrap-around Spider
Dolophones sp ES01
Na
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Of those we've measured, they are ~5mm long but ~8mm wide.
The eye's raised on a platform is not necessarily a diagnostic feature as once thought, nor is it gender specific. The genetalia is, but these images (photo equipement) are not able to magnify the genetalia to a sufficient size to inspect them.
S1, Female
S1, Female
S2, Male
S2, Male
S2, Male
S2, Male
S2, Male
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Greenish Wrap-around Spider
Dolophones sp ES02
Na
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We separated this one out from the others because of the spines/setae around it's palps are quite different to any of the others.
S5, Male
S5, Male
S5, Male
S5, Male
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Brown-striped Wrap-around Spider
Dolophones sp ES07


iNaturalist
Na
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Thank you Suzanne and Jim for confirming the id of this species for us

A small spider at ~3.5mm long.
It decided to "hide" by wrapping around the edge of the pot we caught it in

This one seemed to have very large posterior median eyes (middle, top row)
Dorsal
Profile
Face
Abdomen
Spinnerets
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Garden Orb-weaver
Eriophora biapicata


iNaturalist
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SynonymHortophora biapicata

Other Common NameCommon Garden Orb Weaver

Thank you Suzanne and Jim & Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

The black female (S1) was ~15mm, the black male (S2) ~13mm and the pale male (S6) ~11mm long (body & head)
The male specimen shown here (black one) was in poor shape, malnourished and had lost appendages; missing front leg and one palp. Also it's not possible to see the fangs, so may have also lost them causing the malnutrition. Notice the tibial spur on the 2nd leg of the male. This spur is more forward, compared with the Spurred Orb Weaver (Novakiella trituberculosa); only on the male as they are used when mating to stop the female from invenemating him. This spur is more noticable on this specimen as the front leg isn't blocking the view.
Clearly you can see how highly variable these are.
Both males & females have very spiny legs, which isn't normally very obvious, but with black hairs and golden spines they stand out quite clearly.
These are now Hortophora biapicata, but it takes a while for Atlas to catch up with new binomial names.
Imaged 7 in Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Nov & Dec.
🔍S1, Female, dorsal
🔍S2, Male, dorsal
🔍S4, Juvi Female, dorsal
🔍S6, Male, dorsal
🔍S7, Female, dorsal
🔍S1, Female, profile
🔍S2, Male, profile
🔍S6, Male, profile
🔍S1, Female, Legs
🔍S2, Male, 2nd Leg Spur
🔍S6, Male, 2nd Tibia
🔍S2, Male, Palp
🔍S6, Male, Palp
🔍S1, Female, Eye arrangement
🔍S2, Male, Eyes Arrangement
🔍S6, Male, Eye Arrangement
🔍S2, Male, anterior
🔍S6, Male, Body
🔍S7, Female, Body
🔍S1, Female, Humps
S1, Female, posterior
🔍S2, Male, posterior
🔍S6, Male, Abdomen
🔍S7, Female, Scape
🔍S1, Female, ventral
🔍S2, Male, ventral
🔍S7, Female, ventral
🔍S6, Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Knobbly Orb-weaver
Eriophora cf pustulosa
Na
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Has 2 projections at the front ,and 4 towards the tail, of the abdomen. It's a small spider, so very difficult to see.
We suspect this specimen is immature due to it's small size.
Profile, Eye Arrangement
Anterior, Eyes
Humps
Waving
Profile, rear
Posterior
Ventral, ~5mm
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Small Orb Spider
Gea theridioides


iNaturalist
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Thank you Matthew Connors & Ben Kurek for confirming the id of this species for us

Adult Female ~6mm long, Juv ~2.5mm long.
Strong yellow banded on abdomen. The rear of the abdomen also shows a dark shield. The legs are very striped.
Imaged 2 in Jan.
S1, Juvi Female, dorsal
🔍S2, Adult Female, dorsal
S2, Adult Female, profile
🔍S2, Adult Female, Abdomen
S1, Juvi Female, anterior
S1, Juvi Female, Eye Arrangement
🔍S2, Adult Female, Eye Arrangement
S1, Juvi Female, posterior
🔍S2, Adult Female, posterior
S1, Juvi Female, ventral
🔍S2, Adult Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Australian Golden Orb-web Spider
Nephila edulis


iNaturalist
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SynonymTrichonephila edulis

Thank you Natasha Taylor for confirming the id of this species for us

This is the usually large, grey spider found hanging from road signs on country roads. One of the most photographed spiders in Australia. The male is red and much smaller. It is only when you see them together that his colours make any sense; ie they match her ventral colours.
Female, dorsal, rotated
🔍Female, dorsal, rotated
Female, ventral, rotated
🔍Female, ventral, rotated
🔍Female, ventral
🔍Male, posterior
🔍Male, profile
🔍Male & female, rotated
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Spurred Orb Weaver
Novakiella trituberculosa


iNaturalist
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Other Common NameThree-pointed Novakiella

Thank you Suzanne and Jim & Rog Standen for confirming the id of this species for us

This is a very strange spider, a bit of a Heinz 57 variety. It has long thin legs like a Prowling spider, spurs on it's tibia like a Trapdoor, the back of a Backobourkia (triangular with 3 horns) and eyes like a Jumper. Yet small, only ~5mm long. This is a male; the female wouldn't have the spurs. The only thing that was truly unique about it was the dark brown triangular patch on it's back.
Whole
Dorsal, ~5mm
Ventral
Profile
Eyes
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Leaf curling Spider
Phonognatha graeffei
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As the name suggests they curl up a leaf and dangle it in the middle of their web. Then sit with their legs on the web, waiting for vibrations from prey. They then dart out, snare it and bring it back to the leaf.
Waiting
Waiting
Curled leaf
Anterior
Ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Bush Orb Weaver
Plebs eburnus


iNaturalist
Na
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SynonymAraneus eburnus

Thank you Anthony Paul for confirming the id of this species for us

The female shown here was ~5mm. A male we've also found was ~3mm.
Similar to Leaf Curling Spider
Imaged 2 (1F&1M) in Jan & Dec.
Female, dorsal
Female, profile
Female, anterior
Female, Looks like 10 eyes
Female, Hair made it look like 10 eyes
Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneidae
  (20 species
    17 from Ellura)
Fat Orb Weaver
Zealaranea cf crassa
Na
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A very strange medium sized spider. 2 horned, or 2 spined, and pregnant.
Reddish brown, with it's legs well tucked up.
Looks like a gall. Has a white / yellow / pale stripe all around. It's also faintly two tone with the stripe making the letter "U", or "V", on it's back; separating the 2 tones.
It's perched on a Hakea Wattle (Acacia hakeoides).
Pregnant, Front
Pregnant, Front Under
Pregnant, dorsal
Pregnant, profile
Pregnant, Back
Pregnant, Perspective with Bush
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Swift Spider
Corinnidae
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
White-spotted Swift Spider
Nyssus albopunctatus


iNaturalist
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SynonymsNyssus albopunctata, Supunna albomaculata or Supunna funerea

Other Common NamesSun Spider or Wasp-mimicking Swift Spider

Thank you Reiner Richter & Mark Newton for confirming the id of this species for us
 
Female, dorsal
Female, profile
Female, ventral, ~9mm
Male, dorsal
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Swift Spider
Corinnidae
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Wasp-mimicking Swift Spider
Nyssus coloripes


iNaturalist
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SynonymSupunna picta

Other Common NameOrange-legged Swift Spider

Thank you Reiner Richter for confirming the id of this species for us

An INCREDIBLY fast species. We haven't come across a faster invertebrate. They can be out of the insect box, over your hand, back to the box, twice around it and onto the table before your reactions have pulled your hand away!
Female, whole
Female, eye arrangement
Female, ventral, ~7mm
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Swift Spider
Corinnidae
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Black Swift Spider
Nyssus sp ES01
Na
m
SynonymSupunna sp

These have recently been renamed. There is quite a variety of them with varying spots (white & yellow) and leg markings (black, orange & white).
Female, Dorsal
Female, Anterior
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Swift Spider
Corinnidae
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Swift Spider
Nyssus sp ES02
Na
e m
 
Female, dorsal, ~5mm
Female, Eye Arrangement
Female, anterior
Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Swift Spider
Corinnidae
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Green-head Ant Mimic
Poecilipta sp


iNaturalist
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~4.5mm long
Anthony Paul kindly highlighted to us there's another VERY similar genus called Iridonyssus. Generally it's "fatter" with shorter legs. One of the Poecilipta has a constricted abdomen, but others don't. This isn't a diagnostic feature for the whole genus. Given this is longer & more pointed/thinner we've decided on this genus.
This specimen also looks very similar to the photo of P. smaragdinea, page 368, of "A Guide to the Spiders of Australia"
Male, dorsal
Male, profile
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Swift Spider
Corinnidae
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Marbled Swift Spider
Ticopa sp


iNaturalist
Na
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Thank you Dr Volker Framenau for identifying and Dr Robert Raven for confirming the id of this species for us

A medium sized spider with body & head length of ~7-10mm. Males & Females are similar size.
While it looks like T. hudsoni, Robert said "It should be Ticopa australis" in that region. "The patterns are not absolute, especially with the few specimens we have of Ticopa". The male palps need to be examined under a microscope to make a definitive id. Robert described the species in 2015, which highlights how impossible it is for ameteurs to be certain of their species id.
We originally thought we had a Prowling, Water or perhaps even Orb spider here. Very long legs, all about equal length and spacing. Found on our annex wall. It has a lot of red/brown "skin" showing, with a lot of black blotches & spots. Black spikes (like a Lynx spider), with very short white/grey hair sparsely scattered on the body and legs. The abdomen is completely covered (above, sides & below) in short hair; mainly white/grey except for the black hair in a triangular edged stripe down the back and dappled underneath. The legs do have very fine hair on them, but it's almost invisible. It has 4 small spinnerets near the rear tip, not visible from above
Most importantly the eye arrangement: 2 rows of 4 (but the rows are curved, not straight). The 6 largest (most obvious) eyes make a hexagon shape.
We have found 2 males and 5 females, in Dec, Jan, Feb & May.
🔍S1, Male, dorsal
🔍S2, Female, dorsal
🔍S3, Female, dorsal
🔍S4, Female, dorsal
🔍S1, Male, profile
🔍S4, Female, profile
🔍S1, Male, dorsal, Close
🔍S3, Female, dorsal, close
🔍S4, Female, dorsal, close
🔍S1, Male, profile, Close
🔍S4, Female, profile, messy web
S1, Male, Eye Arrangement
🔍S2, Female, Eye Arrangement
🔍S6, Male, Palp & Eyes
🔍S1, Male, ventral
🔍S2, Female, ventral
🔍S3, Female, ventral
🔍S4, Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Net Casting Spider
Deinopidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Net-casting Spider
Deinopis subrufa


iNaturalist
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SynonymsAsianopis subrufa or Deinopsis subrufa

Other Common NameOgre-faced Spider

Thank you Suzanne and Jim & Peter Crowcroft for confirming the id of this species for us

Highly variable species, generally grey to brown and up to 25mm body & head length. We have only found smaller one ranging in size from 8mm to 19mm.
They have 2 very large eyes pointing forward, similar to jumping spider, on the 2nd row. The other 6 smaller eyes are arranged as: 1 row of 2 eyes above, 1 row of 2 eyes below the larger ones, and the final 2 pointing down to the side on raised mounts. Long strong legs. Often specimens have lumps on the side and dark triangular stripes down their backs.
It's possible all 6 Australian Deinopis species are actually one species.
The males have very large palps for their body size
Imaged 4 (1M) in Feb & Apr.
Female, dorsal
Female, Body, dorsal, ~20mm
Female, profile
Female, iso-view
Female, anterior
Female, leg spines
Female, palps
Female, upper eye-arrangement
Female, lower eye-arrangement
Female, ventral
🔍Male, dorsal
Male, Head & Body
🔍Male, Head
🔍Male, profile
🔍Male, anterior
Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Intertidal Spider
Desidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
House Spider
Badumna sp
Na
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Dorsal
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Intertidal Spider
Desidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Foliage Webbing Spider
Phryganoporus cf candidus
Na
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A social/communal spider.
Dorsal
Profile
Ventral
Web
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Sac Spider
Eutichuridae
  (4 species
    3 from Ellura)
Striped Sac Spider
Cheiracanthium sp ES01
Na
a
Other Common NamesGreen Sac Spider, Longlegged Sac Spider or Yellow Sac Spider

They change colour to some degree based on their last meal. A medium sized spider with a pale green abdomen containing a brown strip at the front. Very large large chelicera (the structure holding the fangs) for it's size. She tended to sit with 2 legs back and 6 legs forward.
We don't know which male (ES01 or ES02) the females goes with. In fact, the female may even be a 3rd species. Also note that ES01 was only found in the Adelaide Hills, and ES02 only at Ellura.
Female, dorsal, ~8mm
Female, profile
Female, abdomen, dorsal
Female, eye arrangement
Female, palps + chelicera
Female, dimples in abdomen
Female, spinnerets
Female, ventral
Male, dorsal, ~8mm
Male, eye arrangement
Male, palp spur
Male, palp cup
Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Sac Spider
Eutichuridae
  (4 species
    3 from Ellura)
Long-legged Sac Spider
Cheiracanthium sp ES02
Na
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Other Common NamesGreen Sac Spider, Longlegged Sac Spider or Yellow Sac Spider

Note the different palps on this one, making it different to ES01.
~5mm long male.
The reason for so many ventral shots here is to show the way the fangs can hinge and move around; used like fingers to some degree.
Male, dorsal
Male, eye arrangement
Male, palps & chelicera
Male, chelicera & spinnerets
Male, chelicera
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Sac Spider
Eutichuridae
  (4 species
    3 from Ellura)
Yellow Long-legged Sac Spider
Cheiracanthium sp ES03


iNaturalist
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Other Common NamesGreen Sac Spider, Longlegged Sac Spider or Yellow Sac Spider

~8mm long body.
🔍S1, Male, dorsal
🔍S1, Male, profile
🔍S1, Male, Body, dorsal
🔍S1, Male, Body & Palp, profile
🔍S1, Male, Large Fangs
🔍S1, Male, Palps
🔍S1, Male, Palps
🔍S1, Male, Spinnerets
🔍S1, Male, posterior
🔍S1, Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Sac Spider
Eutichuridae
  (4 species
    3 from Ellura)
Sac Spider
Eutichuridae sp
Na
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Male, profile, ~5mm
Male, anteriror, ~5mm
Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Ground Spider
Gnaphosoidea: Gnaphosidae
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Ground Spider
Gnaphosidae sp ES01
Na
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Male, dorsal, ~6mm
Male, profile
Male, anterior
Male, Eye Arrangement
Male, Palps, profile
Male, Spinnerets
Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Ground Spider
Gnaphosoidea: Gnaphosidae
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Wishbone Ground Spider
Gnaphosidae sp ES04
Na
e m
~9.5mm long
It isn't obvious in these photo's, but this looks like a small wishbone spider to the naked eye. The hair on the leg joints near the body stand out in natural light, like the smooth joints on wishbone spiders.
Separating out Gnaphosidae spiders photographically is nearly impossible; even for arachnologists.
Male, dorsal
Male, profile
Male, Eye Arrangement, dorsal
Male, Eye Arrangement, anterior
Male, Abdominal Hair
Male, Palp
Male, Chelicerae
Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Ground Spider
Gnaphosoidea: Gnaphosidae
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Flat Ground Spider
Hemicloea sp
Na
e m a
Similar Species: Flat Spider (Morebilus cf sp) : Red Flat Spider (Platorish gelorup)
Their size varies from ~5.5mm up to 9mm. Most likely we have found a number of different species but it's difficult to separate them out. Only the 1st we've photographed is shown here.
These are similar to Trachycosmidae (were in Trochanteriidae), except these can't walk up glass. We find they also have much larger spinnerets. Unfortunately Atlas hasn't caught up yet, so we have to wait for them to move it as well.
Imaged 9 (3M) in Feb, Apr, May, Jul, Aug, Nov & Dec.
🔍S1, Female, dorsal, ~9mm
S1, Female, profile
🔍S1, Female, Next to 5 cent piece
S1, Female, Eye Arrangement
S1, Female, Spinnerets
S1, Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Flat Spider
Gnaphosoidea: Trachycosmidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Flat Spider
Morebilus cf sp
Na
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Similar Species: Flat Ground Spider (Hemicloea sp)
Thank you Caitlin Henderson for helping with the id of this species for us

One diagnostic of these is that they can walk up glass. We didn't test this here as we didn't know way back when these photo's were taken. But it was happy climbing over a plastic water bottle, which is almost the same.
Notice the spinnerets are tiny compared to our Hemicloea
We thought this was Morebilus cf fumosus but Caitlin lifted our id to genus level saying "it could easily be Morebilus (without having examined it)". Just to highlight to people the "cf" in the name means "looks like", as such it could well be another species or genus.
Imaged 1 male in Oct.
S1, male, dorsal
S1, male, profile
S1, male, iso
S1, male, anterior
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Flat Spider
Gnaphosoidea: Trachycosmidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Red Flat Spider
Platorish gelorup


iNaturalist
Na
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Similar Species: Flat Ground Spider (Hemicloea sp)
Thank you Caitlin Henderson for identifying this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
One diagnostic of these is that they can walk up glass. We've tested this with these. The males were ~6mm long, while the female ~7.5mm long.
Notice the spinnerets are tiny compared to Hemicloea.
We thought this was Morebilus cf fumosus.
Caitlin said "I'm fairly confident that what you have is Platorish gelorup ... the particularly wide carapace compared to length and the rounded sternum are diagnostic. The image of the palp was clear enough to compare structures to Platnick's 2002 revision which match perfectly with P. gelorup, which is also a geographic match. Without examining the specimen under a microscope of course, there is margin for error."
To be clear, Caitlin only id'ed the male. We have assumed the female is the same species based on appearance & location.
Imaged 3 (1F) in Apr & May.
🔍S1, female, dorsal
🔍S2, male, dorsal
🔍S2, male, Eye Arrangement
🔍S2, male, Flatness Perspective
🔍S2, male, Perspective
🔍S2, male, ventral
🔍S1, female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Two Tailed Spider
Hersiliidae
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Two-tailed Spider
Tamopsis cf fickerti
Na
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Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Two Tailed Spider
Hersiliidae
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Flat-headed Two-tailed Spider
Tamopsis cf platycephala


iNaturalist
Na
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This species is a northern species only known from NT, Qld & NSW, so suspect it's not the same species, but certainly looks it and is the right size, so probably closely related.
~6mm long excluding appendages (ie legs, spinerets & palps).
As can be seen, a very different abdomen shape to our other Two-tailed Spiders. Also quite large, with the male spiders usually considerably smaller than females. Females are reported to be ~10mm
Imaged 1 male in Jun.
🔍Male, Dorsal
🔍Male, Profile
Male, Eye Arrangement
🔍Male, Ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Two Tailed Spider
Hersiliidae
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Two-tailed Spider
Tamopsis sp ES01
Na
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The 6 specimens we have found range from just over 4mm to 6mm. Originally suspecting they were different species, due to the strength of patterns, the patterns still match. We suspect they are now various stages of growth from the smallest being younger, to the largest being older. Interestingly all are female, no males found yet.
Imaged in May, Jun, Jul & Dec.
Released, dorsal, ~4.5mm
Eye arrangement
Ventral
Nest
Dorsal, ~5mm
Eye arrangement
Ventral
🔍Female, dorsal, ~6mm
Female, profile
Female, Eye Arrangement
Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
White-tailed Spider
Lamponidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
White-tailed Spider
Lampona cf cylindrata
Na
e m a c
This family can be nearly impossible to differentiate, but being in South Australia this species is the most common.
Dorsal
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Wolf Spider
Lycosoidea: Lycosidae
  (11 species
    10 from Ellura)
Tiger Wolf Spider
Hoggicosa castanea


iNaturalist
Na
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Thank you Cael Gallery for identifying this species for us

S1, Male, was very large, ~20mm body, ~60-70mm legspan.
Because of the "Union Jack" like pattern, we previously thought it was a Tasmanicosa sp.
After Cael had I'd S3, we went looking for others we had photographed, finding S1 & S2. Cael agreed, but with S2 he said "A little pale but i think so".
We asked Cael why the examples on the internet looked so different and he said "Hoggicosa are very sexually dimorphic so it's hard to give you any tips that apply to males and females. With H. castanea males have like a really muted version of the female's patterns and they lack the orange colour too."
When we comment on the fact we had only seen males, Cael said "You probably haven't seen any female H. castanea because they live in lidded burrows".
Later, Cael gave another diagnostic tip "Hoggicosa don't have a pale median streak on the carapace or a white margin".

Imaged 3 Males in Jan & Feb.
🔍S1, Male, dorsal
🔍S2, Male, dorsal
🔍S3, Male, dorsal
🔍S1, Male, dorsal, close
🔍S1, Male, Eye Arrangement
🔍S1, Male, profile
🔍S1, Male, anterior
🔍S1, Male, anterior, close
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Wolf Spider
Lycosoidea: Lycosidae
  (11 species
    10 from Ellura)
Two-toned Wolf Spider
Hoggicosa forresti


iNaturalist
Na
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Thank you Cael Gallery for identifying this species for us

A large male spider, 17mm body length, 55mm leg span.
After Cael id'ed our Tiger Wolf Spider (Hoggicosa castanea) we went looking for others we had photographed. We thought this was one, but Cael recognised the difference and said "The big difference here is the median streak on the abdomen and the black on the femur."
Imaged 1 male in Apr.
🔍S1, Male, dorsal
🔍S1, Male, profile
🔍S1, Male, posterior
🔍S1, Male, dorsal, close
🔍S1, Male, Palp
🔍S1, Male, ventral
🔍S1, Male, Eye Arrangement
🔍S1, Male, Anterior
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Wolf Spider
Lycosoidea: Lycosidae
  (11 species
    10 from Ellura)
Wolf Spider
Lycosidae sp ES01
Na
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Female, dorsal, ~5mm
Female, ventral
Female, profile
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Wolf Spider
Lycosoidea: Lycosidae
  (11 species
    10 from Ellura)
Wolf Spider
Lycosidae sp ES03
Na
e m
 
Female, dorsal, ~6mm
Female, ventral
Eye arrangement
Female, profile, released
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Wolf Spider
Lycosoidea: Lycosidae
  (11 species
    10 from Ellura)
Wolf Spider
Lycosidae sp ES04
Na
m
 
Dorsal
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Wolf Spider
Lycosoidea: Lycosidae
  (11 species
    10 from Ellura)
Banded Wolf Spider
Lycosidae sp ES06


iNaturalist
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Thank you Ethan Yeoman & Cael Gallery for confirming and Ben Kurek for helping with the id of this species for us

~12mm long.
Orange chelicera. 4 hidden spinnerets. Cael Gallery said "Venator seems like a decent match for these ones."
🔍Female, dorsal
🔍Female, Face
🔍Female, 4 Spinnerets
🔍Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Wolf Spider
Lycosoidea: Lycosidae
  (11 species
    10 from Ellura)
White-rimmed Wolf Spider
Lycosidae sp ES07


iNaturalist
Na
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Thank you Cael Gallery for confirming the id of this species for us

Cael said "Something similar to Hogna"
🔍S1, Male, dorsal
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Wolf Spider
Lycosoidea: Lycosidae
  (11 species
    10 from Ellura)
Undescribed Wolf Spider
Lycosidae sp ES08


iNaturalist
Na
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Thank you Ben Kurek & Cael Gallery for confirming the id of this species for us

Cael said "Pretty sure they're undescribed. I've found them everywhere, even up to the roxby downs area"
🔍S1, dorsal
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Wolf Spider
Lycosoidea: Lycosidae
  (11 species
    10 from Ellura)
Wolf Spider
Tasmanicosa cf sp
Na
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Back, coming out of Burrow
Profile, coming out of Burrow
Front, coming out of Burrow
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Wolf Spider
Lycosoidea: Lycosidae
  (11 species
    10 from Ellura)
Union Jack Wolf Spider
Tasmanicosa harmsi


iNaturalist
Na
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Thank you Ben Kurek & Dr Paul Whitington for confirming the id of this species for us

Female ~13mm to ~22mm long. Found a male which was ~18mm body length. This is a large size variation for a species.
Wolf spiders have very variable body patterns, so are difficult to separate.
Here Ben said "T. harmsi should have diagnostic dense white setae between the pedicel and the epigastric furrow which I am having trouble seeing but it also has the black on the spinnerets which is also diagnostic." He later confirmed the id by saying "Comparing the venter of yours with the preserved specimens in Framenau, V. W. & Baehr, B. C. (2016). Revision of the Australian Union-Jack wolf spiders, genus Tasmanicosa, it's a good match." and that "T. harmsi has a band of white setae between the pedicel and the epigastric furrow, an area of the venter that is black in T. phyllis" (a very similar species).
It possible the off white setae is just camera/lighting artefacts.
Ben agreed to our S1 specimen id. We've extrapolated to the other specimens that Ben hasn't seen.
Paul agreed and said "Your photo of the venter is the same as Fig.12C in Framenau and Baehr, showing that diagnostic "dense white setae ventrally between the epigastric furrow and the pedicel in both males and females". - very handy! T. hughjackmani, the other Tasmanicosa species in your location is all black on the venter."
We think we have recognised 7 specimens (6 females, 1 male) in Jan (male), Mar, Sep, Oct & Nov (juvi).
🔍S1, Female, dorsal
🔍S2, Female, dorsal
🔍S5, Female, dorsal
🔍S7, Male, dorsal
🔍S7, Male, dorsal, close up
🔍S1, Female, profile, Released
🔍S7, Male, profile
🔍S1, Female, Face
🔍S7, Male, Face
🔍S2, Female, anterior
🔍S5, Female, anterior
🔍S7, Male, anterior
🔍S7, Male, Front Leg Hair
🔍S7, Male, Palps
🔍S1, Female, ventral
🔍S2, Female, ventral
🔍S7, Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Wolf Spider
Lycosoidea: Lycosidae
  (11 species
    10 from Ellura)
Wolf Spider
Venator cf sp
Na
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Male, dorsal, ~11mm
What a pretty boy you are
Male; who's his barber?
Male, profile
Male, ventral
Male, palp
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Prowling Spider
Lycosoidea: Miturgidae
  (4 species
    3 from Ellura)
Wandering Spider
Argoctenus sp ES02
Na
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Thank you Dr Robert Raven for confirming the id of this species for us

The first specimen looks like A. igneus, but can't be confirmed without genital inspection.
The eyes look superficially similar to wolf spider. But the top, rear eyes are not as far back, and the front top eyes are closer together (wolf spider top eyes make a square).
We've only seen the males so far and they are ~5mm body & head length. A 3rd specimen we sighted last week was 7mm body & head length.
They have very long legs, somewhat like a Ticopa sp.
When you look close enough, from the right angle you can see they have tufts of hair over they eyes, like eyebrows.
Eye arrangement is 4 rows of 2. The pair of eyes on the 2nd bottom row are very small (very difficult to see) and outside of the bottom pair.
1st Specimen
2nd Specimen
2nd Specimen
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Prowling Spider
Lycosoidea: Miturgidae
  (4 species
    3 from Ellura)
Striped Swamp Spider
Miturga cf gilva


iNaturalist
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Thank you Anthony Paul & Ethan Yeoman for confirming the id of this species for us
 
Male, body
Male, ~16mm
Male, abdomen
Male, eye arrangement
Male, ventral
Male, palp with spur
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Prowling Spider
Lycosoidea: Miturgidae
  (4 species
    3 from Ellura)
Prowling Spider
Miturga cf lineata
Na
a
Thank you Mark Newton for identifying this species for us

This one has very large spinnerets compared to the others, and strong ventral striping (ie under the abdomen)
Female, dorsal
Female, ~11mm
Female, eye arrangement
Female, ventral
Female, palps
Female, profile + released
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Prowling Spider
Lycosoidea: Miturgidae
  (4 species
    3 from Ellura)
Mottled-leg Prowling Spider
Odo sp ES01


iNaturalist
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Thank you Cael Gallery for confirming the id of this species for us

Males ~9mm long. We measured one of the male legs that it had lain out flat to be 17mm long.
These were moved to the Xenoctenidae family in 2017, but Atlas still has them listed under Miturgidae.
S1, Male, dorsal
🔍S4, Male, dorsal
S1, Male, dorsal, close
🔍S4, Male, dorsal, close
S1, Male, profile
🔍S4, Male, profile
🔍S4, Male, profile, close
S1, Male, Eye Arrangement
🔍S4, Male, Eye Arrangement
🔍S4, Male, Palp
🔍S4, Male, ventral
S1, Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Red and Black Spider
Nicodamidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Red & Black Spider
Nicodamidae sp
Na
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Other Common NameRed and Black Spider
 
Juvenile
Making a web
Adult
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Red and Black Spider
Nicodamidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Red & Black Spider
Nicodamus cf peregrinus
Na
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Other Common NameRed and Black Spider

Thank you Mark Newton for identifying this species for us

Very unusual palps on the male of this spider. They are all unique, but this one has some external projections on them. We were also lucky enough to catch the spiral shape inside the cup as well.
While a red & black spider, you can see the abdomen has a strong navy blue sheen that is visible in sunshine to the naked eye.
Male, dorsal, ~7mm
Male, profile
Male, eye arrangement, side
Male, eyes, anterior
Male, palps
Male, palps
Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Lynx Spider
Oxyopidae
  (4 species
    4 from Ellura)
Charming Lynx Spider
Oxyopes amoenus


iNaturalist
Na
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Other Common NameFarmland Lynx Spider

~7.5mm long Female.
Imaged 1 in Jan.
🔍Female, dorsal
🔍Female, profile
🔍Female, anterior
🔍Female, Face
🔍Female, posterior
🔍Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Lynx Spider
Oxyopidae
  (4 species
    4 from Ellura)
Variable Lynx Spider
Oxyopes cf variabilis
Na
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This one was jumping around like crazy
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Lynx Spider
Oxyopidae
  (4 species
    4 from Ellura)
Lynx Spider
Oxyopidae sp ES01
Na
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Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Lynx Spider
Oxyopidae
  (4 species
    4 from Ellura)
Lynx Spider
Oxyopidae sp ES02
Na
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Male
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Daddy Long Legs
Pholcidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Long-bodied Daddy Long-legs
Pholcus cf phalangioides
If
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Other Common NamesDaddy Long Legs, Daddy Longlegs or Daddy-long-legs
 
Female, dorsal
Female, Eye Arrangement
Female, Body Patterns
Female, Chelicerae
Female, Hairy Legs
Female, Ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Daddy Long Legs
Pholcidae
  (2 species
    2 from Ellura)
Daddy Long-legs
Smeringopus cf natalensis
If
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Other Common NamesDaddy Long Legs, Daddy Longlegs or Daddy-long-legs

Thank you Mark Newton for identifying this species for us

~5-7mm.
Very difficult to be certain of species, with out proper examination (as with many of the spiders here).
This genus is unusual for a spider in that the male & female are the same size.
Male, dorsal
Male, Body, close up
Male, Eye arrangement
Male, Body, ventral
Male, Head, ventral
Female, Palps, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Jumping Spider
Salticidae
  (15 species
    13 from Ellura)
Adelaide's Fly Mimic
Abracadabrella lewiston


iNaturalist
Na
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Thank you Ethan Yeoman for confirming the id of this species for us

~3.5mm long, found desiccated. A female we think.
This id is based on location, the only species in the genus known to be found in SA.
However, it looks more like A. birdsvillei.
More work is needed to determine the true range of the different species of Abracadabrella.
Dorsal
Profile
Anterior
Ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Jumping Spider
Salticidae
  (15 species
    13 from Ellura)
Jovial Jumping Spider
Apricia jovialis


iNaturalist
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SynonymsBreda jovialis or Ocrisiona jovialis

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli & Karen Weaving for confirming the id of this species for us

Females are from ~5mm to ~7mm long.
It seems the typical orange band on the can be almost non-existant, or very strong.
Imaged 6 adults in Feb, Mar, Apr, Sep & Dec.
🔍S1, Female, dorsal
S2, Female, dorsal
🔍S6, Female, dorsal
S2, profile
🔍S6, profile
S1, Posterior
S1, Face
S6, Face
S2, Eye Arrangement
🔍S2, Palps
S2, "Pedicel"
🔍S6, Shiny Abdomen
🔍S6, Spinnerets
S1, ventral
S2, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Jumping Spider
Salticidae
  (15 species
    13 from Ellura)
Grey Striped Bark Jumper
Clynotis severus


iNaturalist
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Thank you Nicholas John Fisher for confirming the id of this species for us

The cutest of all spiders, the jumpers (Salticidae) do have 8 eyes (not 6), though difficult to see.
Obviously the 2 headlights at the front & 2 side parkers. Going on top of the head, theres a nearly invisible pair, and finally the pair a the back. (2-2-4). Our Bronze Aussie Jumper (Helpis cf minitabunda) probably shows all 8 the best.
Nicholas said "Whereas Clynotis severus is almost exclusively a trunk dweller"
🔍Dorsal, ~7mm
Face
Profile
Head Articulation
Eyes + palps
Ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Jumping Spider
Salticidae
  (15 species
    13 from Ellura)
Bronze Aussie Jumper
Helpis cf minitabunda
Na
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Male, profile
Male, front
🔍Female, dorsal, ~8mm
Female, face
Female, articulation, profile
Female, articulation, front
Female, profile
Female, ventral
Female, eye arrangement
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Jumping Spider
Salticidae
  (15 species
    13 from Ellura)
Under-bark Jumping Spider
Holoplatys sp
Na
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Thank you Mark Newton for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Female, dorsal, ~9mm
Female, body
Female, eye arrangement
Female, spinnerets
Female, rear leg hair
Female, leg spurs
Female, dimples in the cephalothorax
Female, grooves in the abdomen
Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Jumping Spider
Salticidae
  (15 species
    13 from Ellura)
White-banded Jumping Spider
Hypoblemum griseum


iNaturalist
Na
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SynonymMaratus griseus

Thank you Gelkiu for confirming the id of this species for us

Females are ~7-8mm. The one male we measured was ~6.5
These are very variable. It seems the skull pattern on the abdomen is a rarity, rather than the norm.
Imaged 9 in May, Aug, Sep, Nov & Dec.
🔍S2, Female, dorsal
🔍S7, Female, dorsal
🔍S3, Male, dorsal
🔍S2, Female, profile
🔍S7, Female, profile
🔍S3, Male, profile
🔍S3, Male, Palps
🔍S2, Female, Face
🔍S7, Female, Face
S2, Female, Eye Arrangement
🔍S2, Skull Pattern on Abdomen
🔍S7, Female, posterior
S2, Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Jumping Spider
Salticidae
  (15 species
    13 from Ellura)
Jumping Spider
Jotus cf auripes
Na
a
 
Dorsal, ~4mm
Face
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Jumping Spider
Salticidae
  (15 species
    13 from Ellura)
Black & White Brushed Jumper
Jotus karllagerfeldi


iNaturalist
Na
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Other Common NameBlack and White Brushed Jumper

Thank you Joseph Schubert for identifying and Suzanne and Jim, David Muirhead & Belinda Copland for confirming the id of this species for us

~6mm long.
These are known for their green eyes & long, black hairy front 4 legs. Notice on the outside of the black hairy legs, there are long white hairs mixed in. This is visible in the profile shots. They are a dark spider (with black base colour) with pale hairs. With S2 we bumped up the lighting to highlight features, but this tends to distort colour somewhat.
Imaged 3 males in Apr & May
S1, Male, dorsal
🔍S2, Male, dorsal
S1, Male, profile
🔍S2, Male, profile
🔍S2, Male, Face
🔍S2, Male, Eyes
🔍S2, Male, Black Hairy Leg
🔍S1, Male, anterior
S1, Male, posterior
S1, Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Jumping Spider
Salticidae
  (15 species
    13 from Ellura)
Unusual Peacock Spider
Maratus anomalus


iNaturalist
Na
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Thank you Suzanne and Jim for confirming the id of this species for us

Our 1st Peacock spider
Didn't even see the blue until we had a camera on it.
This is an important record as they have only been known from the Eastern States, so a range extension.
~3.5mm long
Black anterior stripe on 3rd row legs, which are covered in white hair lower down.
Blue upper abdomen, with white anterior horizontal strip AND red/orange horizontal posterior stripe.
Black cephalothorax, with white rear stripes, red/orange anterior edge stripes around the eyes, and white & red/orange dappled hair cut.
Long spinnerets
Male, dorsal
Male, profile
Male, Eye Arrangement
Male, Face
Male, Head
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Jumping Spider
Salticidae
  (15 species
    13 from Ellura)
Ant-mimicking Jumping Spider
Myrmarachne cf luctuosa
Na
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🔍Anterior
Profile, ~6mm
Ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Jumping Spider
Salticidae
  (15 species
    13 from Ellura)
Masked Jumping Spider
Opisthoncus nigrofemoratus
Na
a
Of this species Suzie & Jim said "The holotype only included a male and Koch's original description (translated)
"Attus nigrofemoratus ... The legs are hairy white, the hips brownish-yellow, only the foremost darker, the thighs black-brown..."
The female was not described but derived later from association.
🔍Dorsal
Profile
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Jumping Spider
Salticidae
  (15 species
    13 from Ellura)
Black & White Jumping Spider
Paraplatoides sp


iNaturalist
Na
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Other Common NameBlack and White Jumping Spider

Thank you Ethan Yeoman for identifying and John Douglas for helping with the id of this species for us

~6mm long
Notice the 4 spines under each of the front legs, plus a couple on top of each front thigh.
Ethan said "Sandalodes is quite large and robust, whereas Paraplatoides is flattened (when viewed in lateral aspect)."
This one clearly is quite flat.
Imaged 3 males in Jan & Dec.
S1, Male, dorsal
🔍S3, Male, dorsal
S1, Male, profile
🔍S3, Male, profile
S1, Male, Palps
S1, Male, Lateral Pivoting
S1, Male, Head
S1, Male, anterior
S3, Male, anterior
S1, Male, posterior
🔍S3, Male, posterior
S1, Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Jumping Spider
Salticidae
  (15 species
    13 from Ellura)
Variable Saitis
Saitis mutans


iNaturalist
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Thank you Shannon Deale for identifying and Suzanne and Jim & Ben Kurek for helping with the id of this species for us

One of the diagnostics of this genus is that the 3rd legs are longer than the rest. This lady certainly has that trait. She was a strong jumper and the 3rd legs were always tucked in (when sitting), like a spring ready to pounce

When tucked in the 3rd legs were higher than the rest and you can measure on the screen on the last photo to show the rest of the leg is also longer than the rear.

Suzanne and Jim said "Yes its very similar to one of the female variation of S mutans shown in Jurgens early paper. S mutans is still recognized as a valid Oz species in WSC but several later papers have shown that both S saitis and S virgatus are probably not Saitis.
In particular the 2021 paper Phylogenomics of peacock spiders and their kin (Salticidae: Maratus) state that the genetics of these two species show that they are not even in the same genus, and it confirmed an earlier paper that casts doubt on either of them being the same genus as Saitis barbipes.
So yes I think this female is probably similar to what is currently called Saitis mutan, and that taxon is probably suspect, but until we get a paper retaxoning them you have the choice to either id as S mutans or more generically (probably not as Saitis)"
🔍Female, dorsal
Female, profile
Female, Eye Arrangement
Female, Head
Female, looking down
Female, leg length
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Jumping Spider
Salticidae
  (15 species
    13 from Ellura)
Red-faced Jumping Spider
Saitis sp


iNaturalist
Na
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Thank you Suzanne and Jim for confirming the id of this species for us

This is an undescribed species.
~4mm long
Red face
Yellow/orange hairy palps
Waved 3rd leg (couldn't get a photo of it)
Metallic Blue scales on 3rd legs
White hair on the inside metatarsusi of the 3rd legs
A strange red structure behind it's head
Large rear eyes
3 vertical white stripes at the back of the head, and around the lower rim of the cephalothorax.
🔍Male, dorsal
🔍Male, profile
🔍Male, Blue 3rd Legs
🔍Male, Face
🔍Male, posterior
🔍Male, Stripes
🔍Male, Head
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Jumping Spider
Salticidae
  (15 species
    13 from Ellura)
Flat Striped Jumping Spider
Zebraplatys sp


iNaturalist
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Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Male, ~5mm long.
Most of the white are tiny short bristly hairs.
Note how flat it is, thick front legs and indented abdomen. They front large eyes reflect green & have white "eyelashes".
While this isn't listed on the Murraylands Survey, we wanted to highlight how rare it is with very few specimens found.
🔍Male, dorsal
Male, profile
Male, anterior
Male, Cephalothorax
Male, Abdomen
Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Huntsman
Sparassidae
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Social Huntsman Spider
Delena cancerides


iNaturalist
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Thank you Ben Kurek for confirming the id of this species for us

Adult female ~18mm long.
We found her inside our rain guage, gave us quite a shock.
🔍Adult Female, dorsal
🔍Adult Female, profile
🔍Adult Female, Eye Arrangement
🔍Adult Female, Palp
🔍Adult Female, anterior
🔍Adult Female, Abdomen
🔍Adult Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Huntsman
Sparassidae
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Undescribed Huntsman Spider
Isopeda sp


iNaturalist
Na
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Thank you Mark Newton & Cael Gallery for identifying and Ben Kurek & Janet Whitington for helping with the id of this species for us

Came to a night light. Cael said "It's too grey to be I.leai (Especially with the speckled pattern on the abdomen and carapace) and the spots on the abdomen are the wrong shape for Isopedella. The adults of this species are huge!"
🔍S3, Male, dorsal
S4, Female, dorsal
🔍S11, Female, Juvenile, dorsal
🔍S3, Male, Eye Arrangement
S4, Female, Eye Arrangement
🔍S3, Male, body hair
🔍S3, Male, pedipalps seen from front
🔍S3, Male, pedipalps seen from side
S3, Male, pedipalps close side
S3, Male, pedipalps close front
S4, Female, front, red joints
🔍S3, Male, ventral, ~16mm
S4, Female, body, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Huntsman
Sparassidae
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Southern Grey Huntsman
Isopedella cf cerussata
Na
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🔍Juvenile, dorsal, ~6.5mm
🔍Juvenile, anterior
🔍Juvenile, eye arrangment
🔍Juvenile, head
🔍Juvenile, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Huntsman
Sparassidae
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Saunders' Huntsman
Isopedella saundersi


iNaturalist
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Other Common NameGold-Spotted Huntsman

Thank you Matthew Connors for identifying and Ben Kurek & Natasha (Ethmostigmus) for confirming the id of this species for us

These have a huge size variation. We've measured males between 13 to 22mm long. Remember males only get their palps when they are mature. Females (that we recognise are this species) also range from 11 to 29mm. It's possible some of the immature "females" are males. Usually males palps bulge more when younger, but the younger they are the more difficult it is to recognise gender and species.
Because of the
1. Eye brow
2. Spotted under legs
3. Badge is too strong
we thought these were a Badge Huntsmen (Neosparassus genus).
Interestingly, the Sternum is hairy! Quite unusual. The sternum is also black. We've not seen any images of Badge Huntsmen with black sternum.
But the long thin legs always concerned us.
The male here soon woke up and tried to jump on us

These have hairy pads on their feet and can easily walk up glass.
The females get quite colourful with age.
Imaged 17 in Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov & Dec.
Juvenile Female S6, dorsal
Juvenile Female S7, dorsal
Male S9, dorsal
🔍Mature Female S15, dorsal
Juvenile Female S6, profile
Male S9, profile
🔍Mature Female S15, profile
Male S9, Eye Arrangement
Male S9, anterior
Male S9, Palp
🔍Mature Female S15, anterior
🔍Mature Female S15, isoview
Juvenile Female S6, close up
Juvenile Female S6, anterior
Juvi' Female S7, Eye Arrangement
Juvenile Female S6, ventral
Juvenile Female S7, ventral
Male S9, Badge
Male S9, ventral
🔍Mature Female S15, Badge
🔍Mature Female S15, Epigynum
🔍Mature Female S15, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Huntsman
Sparassidae
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Beautiful Badge Huntsman
Neosparassus calligaster


iNaturalist
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SynonymOlios calligaster

Other Common NameShield huntsman spider

Thank you Ben Kurek for confirming the id of this species for us

The adult male (S9) we measured at ~17mm long, while the Juv Female (S2) was ~14mm long.
A very fitting common name! S9 was the most striking Huntsman we've come across. The ventral orange patch was unusually pale/non-existant though.
Imaged 9 in Jan, Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct & Nov.
S2, Juvi Female, dorsal
🔍S9, Adult Male ,dorsal
S2, Eye arrangement
🔍S9, Eye Arrangement
🔍S9, Abdomen
🔍S9, Under Legs
S2, ventral
🔍S9, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Huntsman
Sparassidae
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Badge Huntsman
Neosparassus cf diana
Na
a
 
Ventral
Profile
Dorsal
Back
Face
Camoflouge
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Long-jawed Spider
Tetragnathidae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Long-jawed Spider
Tetragnatha sp
Na
a
~9mm long (excluding the chelicerae "jaws" which are an additional 3mm).
Imaged 1 male in Apr (under the lip inside a pool).
🔍Male, dorsal
🔍Male, profile
🔍Male, Eye Arrangement
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Comb-footed Spider
Theridiidae
  (5 species
    4 from Ellura)
Square-ended Cobweb Spider
Episinus sp


iNaturalist
Na
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SynonymJanula

Thank you Ethan Yeoman for confirming the id of this species for us

~3.5mm long.
Thank you to Ethan for highlighting the synonymy. Atlas is often behind with picking up changes in Taxon.
🔍Female, dorsal
🔍Female, profile
🔍Female, iso view
Female, eye-arrangement
🔍Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Comb-footed Spider
Theridiidae
  (5 species
    4 from Ellura)
Ant-eating Spider
Euryopis sp


iNaturalist
Na
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Thank you Ben Kurek for identifying this species for us

~2.5mm long
S1, Female, dorsal
🔍S3, Male, dorsal
S1, Female, Eye Arrangement
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Comb-footed Spider
Theridiidae
  (5 species
    4 from Ellura)
Redback
Latrodectus hasseltii


iNaturalist
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SynonymLatrodectus hasselti

Thank you Anthony Paul for confirming the id of this species for us

A poisonous spider that can be lethal, but very, very rarely.
Poisoning usually occurs due to picking up material off the ground without gloves. They love corrugated iron.
They are generally black with a dark red diamond shaped stripe on their abdomen which extends from the top all the way round underneath.
The stripe goes bright red when threatened.
Diagnostically only the red hour glass underneath is relevant. As such, they can be missing the red stripe on top, are often brown not black, and also often have white stripes.
These originated in the North-western Deserts of South Australia. They have become cosmopolitan (ie travel with humans) to other locations outside their native range.
Male, dorsal
Male, profile
Male, palps
Male, ventral + size
Female, posterior
Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Comb-footed Spider
Theridiidae
  (5 species
    4 from Ellura)
Cupboard Spider
Steatoda cf grossa
If
a
Other Common NameBrown House Spider

These will make you sick for a few days if bitten. It's related to the redback, so it's quite understandable.
It's possibly a different species (as with the case with all our inverts), but S. grossa originated in Canada.
Dorsal
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Comb-footed Spider
Theridiidae
  (5 species
    4 from Ellura)
Theridiid Spider
Theridiidae sp
Na
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Either Achaearanea or Theridion species, but their appearance over lap and this group of spiders has many undescribed species. So this is the best we can get to.
Dorsal
Dorsal
Eye arrangement
Profile
Ventral, ~5mm
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Crab Spider
Thomisidae
  (16 species
    14 from Ellura)
Blood-spattered Crab Spider
Australomisidia cruentata
Na
a
SynonymDiaea sp

Other Common NameBlood-spattered Diaea
 
Head
Abdomen
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Crab Spider
Thomisidae
  (16 species
    14 from Ellura)
Cambridge's Crab Spider
Isala cf cambridgei


iNaturalist
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SynonymStephanopis cambridgei

The male we found is ~7mm, a bit small
It's abdomen is pock-marked a bit like a golf ball.
The setae/scales covering the body & legs are quite amazing!
The eyes seem to be on a smaller pedestal compared to S. similis.
Imaged 1 male in Mar.
🔍Male, dorsal
🔍Male, profile
🔍Male, palps
🔍Male, Body & Eyes
🔍Male, Eyes
🔍Male, Furrowed Legs
🔍Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Crab Spider
Thomisidae
  (16 species
    14 from Ellura)
Striped Bark Crab Spider
Isala longimana


iNaturalist
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SynonymStephanopis longimana

Thank you Dr Miguel Machado for identifying and Dr Ron Atkinson for confirming the id of this species for us

The Female was slightly larger than the males at a little over 4mm, with the males between ~3mm to ~4mm. This is very small for this species, females are over 9mm.
We had long discussions with Ron about these, which was very appreciated.
If the id is correct it makes these a range extension for this species into SA. The habitat is also semi-arid here, rather than the damper coastal regions of the Eastern States & Tasmania where they've been recorded before. Perhaps this impacts their size?
Miguel said "This one appears to be similar to Stephanopis longimana". Miguel & his team are also working on some major changes to the very confusing Sidymella & Stephanopis groups which will hopefully clarify their separation; finally!
Find-a-spider Guide
Imaged 5 (4M & 1F) in Feb (F), Jun & Jul.
🔍S1, male, dorsal
🔍S2, female, dorsal
🔍S1, male, profile
🔍S2, female, Eye Arrangement
🔍S1, male, anterior
🔍S2, female, anterior
🔍S1, male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Crab Spider
Thomisidae
  (16 species
    14 from Ellura)
Similar Bark Crab Spider
Isala similis


iNaturalist
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SynonymStephanopis similis

Thank you Suzanne and Jim for confirming the id of this species for us

~7mm body length of the female we found. This is smaller than the 9-10mm she should be. However her abdomen does seem shrivelled; indicating she's just laid eggs &/or is hungry.
The name indicates it's similar to Stephanopis cambridgei. Superficially this doesn't apprear so as S. cambridgei is covered in scaly hairs that hide it's underlying exoskeleton markings.
Note the furrows on the outside of all her legs; top to bottom. As other Stephanopis seem to have. This species stands out for having smooth front legs.
Suzie & Jim said "One of the diagnostics of similis is that pair of black bars running medial in the carapace. Notice how they merge about halfway down. This is how it can be separated from cambridgei. The name similis was given to it due to its resemblance to cambridgei where one of the main diagnostics is the two medial black bars on the carapace."
Imaged 1 female in May.
🔍Female, dorsal
🔍Female, profile
🔍Female, Eyes
🔍Female, Body & Eyes
🔍Female, anterior & Eyes
🔍Female, Furrowed Legs
🔍Female, Setae on Front Leg
🔍Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Crab Spider
Thomisidae
  (16 species
    14 from Ellura)
Undescribed Bark Crab Spider
Isala sp ES01


iNaturalist
Na
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SynonymStephanopis sp

Thank you Dr Miguel Machado for identifying this species for us

~4mm body length.
Miguel's id is tentative, plus he's currently working on this group so things could change rapidly.
Imaged 2 males in Jul.
🔍S1, male, dorsal
🔍S2, male, dorsal
🔍S1, male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Crab Spider
Thomisidae
  (16 species
    14 from Ellura)
Undescribed Crab Spider
Sidymella sp ES01


iNaturalist
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Thank you Dr Miguel Machado for identifying this species for us

~3mm body length.
Miguel's id is tentative, plus he's currently working on this group so things could change rapidly.
Imaged 1 male in Jun.
🔍Male, dorsal
🔍Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Crab Spider
Thomisidae
  (16 species
    14 from Ellura)
Trapezoid Crab Spider
Sidymella trapezia


iNaturalist
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Thank you Karen Weaving & BaronSamedi for confirming the id of this species for us

Anthony Paul told us about Sidymella longipes, which is very similar, but larger at just under 15mm.
The male here being ~5.5mm is also slightly longer than 4mm; considered the size of S. trapezia males. While the female is ~7mm
S1, Male, dorsal, ~5.5mm
🔍S3, Female, dorsal
🔍S1, Male, profile
🔍S3,Female, profile
S1, Male, Eye Arrangement
S3,Female, Eye Arrangement
S1, Male, body profile
S1, Male, body dorsal
S1, Male, palps
S1, Male, spinnerets
S1, Male, leg waving
S1, Male, ventral
🔍S3,Female, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Crab Spider
Thomisidae
  (16 species
    14 from Ellura)
High-browed Crab Spider
Stephanopis altifrons


iNaturalist
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Other Common NameKnobbly Crab Spider

Thank you Suzanne and Jim for confirming the id of this species for us

A fraction over 5mm long Male, with a very narrow eye pedestal.
It is discussed they cover themselves with local debris for camouflage. While you can see sand on it here, the green is part of it's leg base colour. Which is a strange colour for our environment.
Imaged 3 males in Feb & Mar.
🔍Male, dorsal
Male, Eye Pedestal
🔍Male, Body & Eyes
🔍Male, Green Legs
🔍Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Crab Spider
Thomisidae
  (16 species
    14 from Ellura)
Spotted Black Crab Spider
Tharpyna cf campestrata
Na
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Male, dorsal, ~5mm
Male, profile
Male, eye arrangement
Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Crab Spider
Thomisidae
  (16 species
    14 from Ellura)
New Moon Crab Spider
Tharpyna sp ES01
Na
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Male, dorsal, spread
Male, anterior
Male, eye arrangement
Male, dorsal, tight
Male, ventral, ~4.5mm
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Crab Spider
Thomisidae
  (16 species
    14 from Ellura)
Black Crab Spider
Tharpyna sp ES02
Na
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Female, dorsal, spread
Female, dorsal, tight
Female, profile
Female, eye arrangement, front
Female, eye arrangement, side
Female, dorsal, body
Female, ventral, ~4.5mm
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Crab Spider
Thomisidae
  (16 species
    14 from Ellura)
Rotund Flower Spider
Tharrhalea sp ES01
Na
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SynonymsDiaea sp or Lehtinelagia sp

Pale green, small spider (~3mm), with a rotund abdomen.
Dorsal
Profile
Anterior
Eye Arrangement
Ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Crab Spider
Thomisidae
  (16 species
    14 from Ellura)
Pointed Flower Spider
Tharrhalea sp ES02
Na
a
SynonymsDiaea sp or Lehtinelagia sp

Pale green, small spider (~3.5mm), with a narrow abdomen.
Dorsal, ~3.5mm
🔍Anterior
Profile
Ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Crab Spider
Thomisidae
  (16 species
    14 from Ellura)
Grey Crab Spider
Tmarus sp


iNaturalist
Na
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Possibly T. marmoreus
Male, released
Male, dorsal, ~4mm
Male, eye arranagement
Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Crab Spider
Thomisidae
  (16 species
    14 from Ellura)
Hump Backed Crab Spider
Tmarus sp ES02
Na
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🔍Femal, profile
🔍Femal, dorsal, ~4mm
🔍Femal, anterior
Femal, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Crab Spider
Thomisidae
  (16 species
    14 from Ellura)
Milky Flower Spider
Zygometis xanthogaster


iNaturalist
Na
e m a f
Thank you Suzanne and Jim & Dee Petersen for confirming the id of this species for us

They are very variable with the specimen we found on Ellura being the yellow form. The name actually translates to: xanthogaster->(xanthos = "yellow") + (gaster = "belly"). It also makes sense as were millions of small yellow forbs flowering at the time it was found. Notice the one we found in the Adelaide Hills was white, under a white flower. Unusually the white one had no stripes at all (on the legs or carapace). Often the leg stripes are black.
The yellow one was a very small female, ~4.5mm long (body & head), while the white one was a larger female ~7mm.
🔍S2, Yellow Dorsal
🔍S1, White Dorsal
🔍S1, Profile
🔍S1, Ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Venomless Spider
Uloboridae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Venomless Spider
Miagrammopes sp


iNaturalist
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Thank you Tony J. Eales (TJEales) for confirming the id of this species for us
 
Male, dorsal, ~2.5mm
Male, profile
Male, anterior
Male, posterior
Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Ant Spider
Zodariidae
  (7 species
    7 from Ellura)
Chequered Ant Spider
Australutica sp


iNaturalist
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Thank you Ethan Yeoman & Ben Kurek for confirming the id of this species for us

~5.5mm long, so quite small.
Superficially looks like a wolf spider.
Quite unusual for a Zodariid. They are usually pretty hairless and dark/black. This one is quite hairy & pale brown.
🔍Male, dorsal
🔍Male, Body
🔍Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Ant Spider
Zodariidae
  (7 species
    7 from Ellura)
Ant Spider
Habronestes cf hunti
Na
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Male, dorsal, ~7mm
Male, profile
Male, eyes + palps
Male, body, dorsal
Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Ant Spider
Zodariidae
  (7 species
    7 from Ellura)
Ant-eating Spider
Habronestes cf pictus


iNaturalist
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Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us
 
Male, dorsal, ~5mm
Male, anterior, eyes
Male, palps
Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Ant Spider
Zodariidae
  (7 species
    7 from Ellura)
Ant Spider
Habronestes pseudoaustraliensis


iNaturalist
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Thank you Ethan Yeoman for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
We found two species within a metre of each other. One was ~5mm long, the other ~6mm. We think the larger one was gravid.
Notice the eye arrangement & solid white line around the abodomen.
Often Habronestes have the while line is broken into a couple of diagonal stripes.
As with all spiders, the dorsal patterns are not reliable for id.
Female S1, dorsal
Female S2, dorsal
Female S1, profile
Female S2, profile
Female S1, Eye Arrangement, above
Female S1, Eye Arrangement, front
Female S1, Eye Arrangement, side
Female S2, Eye Arrangement, above
Female S1, Abdomen Pattern
Female S2, Abdomen Pattern, above
Female S2, Abdomen Pattern, posterior
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Ant Spider
Zodariidae
  (7 species
    7 from Ellura)
Metallic Blue Ant Spider
Habronestes sp ES01


iNaturalist
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Other Common NameBlue-headed Habronestes

Similar Species: Blue Meat Ant (Iridomyrmex lividus)
Thank you Darren Carman for identifying this species for us

Very much like Swift spiders; they are very fast.
It wouldn't surprise us if they are blue to mimick Blue Meat Ants (Iridomyrmex lividus)
We perhaps went a bit overboard trying to show the white marks, and reflectived hue's, but just found it remarkable.

Unfortunately we haven't managed to get a usable image of the female size, but estimate it's only slightly longer than the male (which is ~5mm).
We have 3 sightings shown here (2f, 1m) and it's possible they are either different species or the same.
It very obviously blue, and looks like an ant running on the ground. Has 2 white "racing" stripes on the side of the abdomen; the anterior one wraps around the front of the abdomen, but the rear stops half way up. Neither contunue underneath. There are also 2 elongated dots dorsally, with a single long stripe at the posterior.
Female, dorsal
Female, eyes + blue carapase
Female, anterior profile
Female, body, dorsal
Female, abdominal stripes
Female, body, sheen
Female, body, sheen
Female, profile
Female, ventral
Male, dorsal, ~5mm
Male, eye arrangement
Male, abdominal purple sheen
Male, anterior
Male, ventral
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Ant Spider
Zodariidae
  (7 species
    7 from Ellura)
Cone-palp Swift Spider
Leichhardteus conopalpis
Na
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Thank you Ethan Yeoman for helping with the id of this species for us

~7-8mm long. We originally thought these were Cavasteron sp. But we saw Ethan id'ing some as Leichhardteus sp on iNat.
Leichhardteus conopalpis is most likely based on location, and the spur on the palp seems to match the orginal description. We have better photo's to load soon.
Male
Spiders
Araneae
  (124 species
    110 from Ellura)
Ant Spider
Zodariidae
  (7 species
    7 from Ellura)
Orange Ant Spider
Nosterella cf sp ES03


iNaturalist
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Ticks
Ixodida
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Hard Tick
Ixodidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Adelaide's Shingleback Tick
Amblyomma limbatum


iNaturalist
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Thank you Owen Seeman for identifying this species for us

Interesting how ones 1st instinct is to try and remove this tick. However, they are just as much a part of our native world as the shingleback.
There is very little information on ticks, etc, and without proper diagnostics we are just guessing that this is the species due to location & host; all engorged female ticks look pretty similar.
Note the tiny legs in these photos, they have 8; as do all arachnids.

There is another tick, Bothriocroton hydrosauri, that also attacks Shinglebacks; found elsewhere.
Imaged 2 Females in Jan & Dec.
S2, Female, dorsal, Feeding
S1, Female, profile
S1, Female, posterior
S1, Female, perspective; lower leg join
Harvestmens
Opiliones
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Harvestmen
Neopilionidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Harvestmen
Megalopsalis sp
Na
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Other Common NamesDaddy-long-legs, Daddy Long Legs, Daddy Longlegs or Daddy Long-legs

The Daddy Long-legs name is miss-leading in Australia as we also have Daddy Long-legs spiders, which look very similar, but are quite different.
The visible difference between spiders & harvestmen is that harvestmen appear to have one single whole body. Spiders have an obvious distinction between the back (abdomen) & front (thorax). Harvestmen have no spinerets nor venom, but these differences are not visible.
The species we have at Ellura looks like it has 12 legs! But it has 8 legs, like a spider, and 2 pairs of mouth parts. Two very long ones look like knees out the front (which are chelicerae), then two smaller helper feeders to their side (which would be palps). The long ones are pointed, while the side ones are rounded & hairy.
Shahan Derkarabetian on iNaturalist said "They are always very cool to find. In this family the males have the extremely long chelicerae."
Dorsal
Front
Profile
Profile, Long Mouth Part Tips
Profile, Helper Mouth Parts
Profile, Feeding
Back
Scorpions
Scorpiones
  (5 species
    4 from Ellura)
Scorpion
Bothriuridae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Wood Scorpion
Cercophonius kershawi


iNaturalist
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Thank you Mark Newton for identifying and Cael Gallery for confirming the id of this species for us

S4 was ~9 SVL
Note scorpions have 8 legs, like spiders, but their claws/pincers are additional and are actually modified pedipalps.
Imaged 8 in Apr, May, Jun & Jul.
S1, dorsal
🔍S4, Male, dorsal
🔍S1, profile
S1, anterior
🔍S4, Male, anterior
🔍S4, Male, Pedipal (Pincer/Claw)
🔍S4, Male, Stinger
🔍S4, Male, pectines
🔍S4, Male, ventral
Scorpions
Scorpiones
  (5 species
    4 from Ellura)
Scorpion
Buthidae
  (4 species
    3 from Ellura)
Spider-hunting Scorpion
Isometroides sp


iNaturalist
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r
Thank you Dr Erich Volschenk for identifying and Crowley Museum & Nature Center Inc. for helping with the id of this species for us

~12mm SVL
Note the single pronged stinger.
We thought this was Isometroides angusticaudus. Erich lifted it to genus saying "The distribution of the SA 'I. angusticaudus' is ~1500km from the type locality in Qld. Without more evidence, I'm very sceptical about these being the same species."
Imaged 1 in Oct.
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Anterior
🔍Ventral
Scorpions
Scorpiones
  (5 species
    4 from Ellura)
Scorpion
Buthidae
  (4 species
    3 from Ellura)
Two-toned Thicktail Scorpion
Lychas cf jonesae


iNaturalist
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Thank you Ethan Yeoman for confirming and Dr Erich Volschenk for helping with the id of this species for us

~8mm long (SVL), ie not including the tail.
This was a very non-agressive scorpion, keeping it's tail down most of the time to try and hide and become inconspicuous.
Notice the 2-pronged spine, which differentiates scorpion groups. Thanks to Mark Hura, this 2-pronged spine is called a "subaculear spine". Erich made a note on our Lychas sp ES02 that the SA specimens of L. jonesae are part of a species complex in the L. jonesae group. In time they'll hopefully get their own species name.
Imaged 1 in Mar.
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile, Tail Up
🔍Profile
🔍Anterior
🔍Ventral
Scorpions
Scorpiones
  (5 species
    4 from Ellura)
Scorpion
Buthidae
  (4 species
    3 from Ellura)
Marbled Scorpion
Lychas sp ES01


iNaturalist
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Thank you Dr Erich Volschenk for identifying this species for us

A small (body & head is around 10mm or so = ~10mm SVL) very pretty scorpion, but quite poisonous.
The common name is very apt, being of marbled / scaloped patterns with various shades of brown. While marbled it is also quite striped; reminding us somewhat of a parquet floor (sharp edges with woodgrain).
Aparantly the sting is very painful so watch out !-)
They also fluoresce in UV light.
We thought this was L. marmoreus, but Erich said "I think this might be one of the synonyms and not 'true' marmoreus. It's a bit on the pale side though which might indicate something in 'variatus group'? So lifted it to genus.
Imaged 1 in Mar.
Dorsal, spread out
Dorsal, compact
Profile
2 Pronged Stinger
Ventral, showing pectines
Scorpions
Scorpiones
  (5 species
    4 from Ellura)
Scorpion
Buthidae
  (4 species
    3 from Ellura)
Small Marbled Scorpion
Lychas sp ES02


iNaturalist
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Thank you Cael Gallery & Dr Erich Volschenk for confirming the id of this species for us

~8mm SVL. Note the "subaculear spine". Plus the 3 eyes lower down on the anterior margin (highlighted in the uv shot).
Dr Erich Volschenk said "This one looks like a member of the L. jonesae group, but probably not 'true' jonesae." He clarified further by saying "Our studies to date (using DNA) indicate that L. jonesae is a complex with several species. We've focussed on the WA species so far, including specimens from the type locality. With this variation I'm cautious about the SA ones being the same. Morphologicaly, they seem to be members of this jonesae group."
Imaged 2 in Mar & Dec.
🔍Dorsal
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Anterior
🔍Marginal Eyes
Mites
Trombidiformes
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Snout Mite
Bdellidae
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Red Snout Mite
Bdellidae sp ES01


iNaturalist
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Other Common NameTick

We asked Gerrut Norval, a local researcher, what the difference between a mite & a tick was.
He said, with our thanks, "Ticks and mite belong to the same subclass, Acari, so they are related. Mites are a very diverse group of organisms with numerous families. Ticks fall into one of three families, the hard ticks (Ixodidae), the soft ticks (Argasidae), and Nuttalliellidae, which currently contains one species restricted to southern Africa. Hard ticks are the ones most people are familiar with. Soft ticks basically look like large mites and can be distinguished from hard ticks by the absence of a scutum."
Dorsal
Mites
Trombidiformes
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Snout Mite
Bdellidae
  (2 species
    1 from Ellura)
Rake-legged Mite
Caeculidae sp


iNaturalist
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Thank you Owen Seeman for confirming the id of this species for us

2nd Record in SA on Atlas:
~1mm long
We thought it might be Microcaeculus sp. Owen said "Probably best left at the family level. The family is poorly worked on in Australia despite their abundance, and the genera Neocaeculus and Microcaeculus are difficult to impossible to distinguish."
Dorsal
Mites
Trombidiformes
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Earth Mite
Penthaleidae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Red-legged Earth Mite
Halotydeus destructor


iNaturalist
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e m a
Other Common NamesRLEM or Redlegged Earth Mite

~1mm long
6-8 on Capeweed
Mites
Trombidiformes
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Velvet Mite
Trombidiidae
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Short-haired Red Velvet Mite
Allothrombiinae sp


iNaturalist
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Thank you Ray Fisher for identifying this species for us

We found what we think is a female being harrassed by some males. The larger (female) was ~5mm, while one of the smaller (male) was ~2.5mm.
Tiny bright red scavenger with 8 legs. The hair is difficult to see with your naked eye.
Notice the white patches are different coloured hair.
Female?
Male?
🔍Male & Female
Male & Female
Mites
Trombidiformes
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Velvet Mite
Trombidiidae
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Long-legged Red Velvet Mite
Erythraeinae sp


iNaturalist
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Thank you Ray Fisher for identifying this species for us

~2mm long
Dorsal
Mites
Trombidiformes
  (6 species
    5 from Ellura)
Velvet Mite
Trombidiidae
  (3 species
    3 from Ellura)
Long-haired Red Velvet Mite
Trombidiidae sp


iNaturalist
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Thank you Ray Fisher for identifying this species for us
 
Hairy

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