The Find-a-Spider Guide

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Selenops australiensis

Fact Box
Species:
Selenops australiensis (RM)
Family:
Selenopidae
Body length:
female: 9 mm
male: 7 mm
Habitat:
Normally under loose bark, especially on eucalypts; this spider's flattened body and ability to move rapidly sideways means it can hide in small crevices; its colour scheme also provides useful camouflage
Toxicity:
Unknown but its fangs are very small and the spider is expremely timid so it is unlikely to cause serious illness in humans
Selenops australiensis
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Front view
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Underneath spider
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The male
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Eyes of male

This species looks somewhat like a huntsman spider except that it only has 6 eyes (all huntsman species have 8 eyes) and it lacks a scopula on the end of each leg.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Many smaller or immature huntsman species.


Email Ron Atkinson for more information.    Last updated 22 May 2010.