Small bird dung spider

Fact Box Species: Arkys curtulus (RM, Platnick) (formerly Archemorus curtulus) or a closely related species Family: Arkyidae Body length: female: 8 mm male: 5 mm Habitat: On the exposed surfaces of green leaves; no webbing is present, spider ambushing its prey Toxicity: This timid species may be too small to harm a human

Melanic form A brown female Another dark female Its unusual eyes

This spider varies in colour and is sometimes totally black (the melanic form). In most instances it has some resemblance to a bird dropping, the legs and most of the body being black but the two abdominal 'wings' white. Because of this camouflage effect, it can often be found motionless on the surface of a leaf waiting for unsuspecting insects to land.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Celaenia excavata, Celaenia calotoides and Dolophones conifera.