Triangular spider

Fact Box Species: Arkys walckenaeri (as now listed by the World Spider Catalog) Previous species name: Arcys clavatus (RM) Family: Arkyidae formerly Araneidae Body length: female: 7 mm male: 4 mm Habitat: On the leaves of green shrubs; this species uses ambush techniques rather than any form of web to catch insects Toxicity: Unknown but believed to be harmless to humans; this spider is probably too small to be able to penetrate human skin

preserved female

The first two pairs of legs are strong and are curved forward like those of crab and salticid spiders and it is important to distinguish between these three very different kinds of spiders. The triangular abdomen is distinctive.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Other Arkys species, such as Arkys lancearius and Arkys cornutus.