Adoxotoma nodosa?

Fact Box Species: Adoxotoma nodosa? (or a closely related species; the spider formerly called Astia nodosa has now been renamed by Gardzinska and Zabka - see reference below) Family: Salticidae Body length: female: 6.5 mm male: about 5.5 mm Habitat: This reasonably small salticid is often found under loose bark in eucalypt forests. The females are said to build a brood chamber under the bark and spend a great deal of time in this guarding their egg sac. What appear to be juveniles of the same species are often found in leaf litter Toxicity: Unknown but this is a timid spider and its fangs may be too small to present a hazard to humans

Oblique view Another female Front view Immature specimen Oblique view The web on bark Underside of spider

The generic name of this spider was changed in 2010 because of the following publication: Gardzinska J. and Zabka M. (2010) "A new genus and five new species of Astieae (Araneae: Salticidae) from Australia, with remarks on distribution" Zootaxa 2526 37-53.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Astia hariola and several salticid genera, especially when immature specimens are examined. Note that Astia, Arasia, Adoxotoma, Helpis, Parahelpis and Tauala are considered to be a closely related group of genera with many physical similarities.