Allocosa obscuroides

Fact Box Species: Allocosa obscuroides (Platnick) (or a closely related species; Volker Framenau suggests this species should now be listed as a 'Lycosa' until the Lycosidae have been revised - see notes below) Previous species name: Lycosa obscuroides Family: Lycosidae Body length: female: about 15-18 mm male: 15 mm Habitat: A shallow open burrow Toxicity: May be harmful; avoid handling

Adult male Underneath male Under abdomen Male palps

This species is often found wandering in lawns foraging for prey (females) or for a mate (males).

Note: The Lycosidae of Australia are very difficult to identify without the aid of a stereo microscope and extensive taxonomic details. Surface markings can be quite variable for a given species, from specimen to specimen, from male to female, and from juvenile to adult. Over the last decade or so a major revision of the Australian wolf spider fauna has been undertaken by Dr. Volker Framenau and his colleagues. This revision is not yet complete so some of the lycosid identifications shown on this website are likely to be incorrect either now or in the near future. At the end of 2010 the most reliable sources of information/photos about the Australian lycosids can be found at the following two websites:

http://www.lycosidae.info/identification/australia/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/australianspiders/collections/72157622669463297/

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Many other Australian lycosids but especially Tasmanicosa godeffroyi.