Xestaspis species

Fact Box Species: Xestaspis species (QM) (see note below) Family: Oonopidae Body length: female: about 3 mm male: about 2 mm Habitat: Little is known of the typical habitat used by this species Toxicity: Unknown; probably far too small to be hazardous to humans

Its 6 eyes Underneath male

The most distinctive characteristic of most of the Australian oonopids is the upper and lower scute (tough shell) on the abdomen, although a number of other kinds of spiders also have somewhat similar abdominal scutes. This spider may easily be confused with the relatively common Australian oonopid genus Gamasomorpha, which it closely resembles.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Myrmopopaea species and several other small spiders but distinguishing between them is best left to an expert.