- Source: Thelacantha
Thelacantha (Asian spinybacked orbweaver) is a genus of orb-weaver spiders containing the single species, Thelacantha brevispina. It was first described by A. W. M. van Hasselt in 1882, and has been found in Australia, Madagascar, the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, as well as parts of Japan. It has also been introduced into Hawaii. T. brevispina is closely related those in the genus Gasteracantha, and was briefly synonymized with it in 1859, but revalidated in 1974. Saito described three other Thelacantha species in 1933, which were later synonymized with T. brevispina.
Description
Females grow to about 6 to 10 millimetres (0.24 to 0.39 in) long, while males reach a size of 3 to 5 millimetres (0.12 to 0.20 in). Females have six abdominal spines ending in distinct sharp points. Most have two large white spots on the upper surface of their abdomens, which are otherwise mottled with black, brown, and white patterns.
Taxonomy
T. brevispina has often been misidentified as Gasteracantha mammosa, which is now G. cancriformis. It has gone through a checkered name history, with many synonyms:
Diversity of females from Japan
See also
Gasteracantha cancriformis
References
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Thelacantha brevispina
- Daftar spesies Araneidae: N–Z
- Thelacantha
- Gasteracantha
- Orb-weaver spider
- Macracantha
- Gasteracantha cancriformis
- List of Araneidae species: N–Z
- Spiny spider
- Austracantha
- List of Araneidae genera
- List of spiders of Sri Lanka
