Anzacia species

Fact Box Species: Anzacia species (This identification is based on the contents of a 1995 paper by Ovtsharenko and Platnick: see below) Family: Gnaphosidae Body length: female: about 3-4 mm male: 3.5 mm Habitat: This species is usually found in eucalypt forests in leaf litter or under loose bark where it lays its eggs in a white sac-like retreat; it does not normally use an insect-trapping web, preferring to ambush its prey Toxicity: This spider is not aggressive and its fangs are probably too small to penetrate human skin

The male Male palps Male spinnerets With its retreat

The wide-set spinnerets on the above spider are characteristic of the Family Gnaphosidae and the silvery sheen, especially on the abdomen, is typical of the genus Anzacia as described in the following paper: Ovtsharenko V.I. and Platnick N.I. (1995) "On the Australasian ground spider genera Anzacia and Adelphodrassus (Araneae: Gnaphosidae)" American Museum Novitates 3154, 1-16. The World Spider Catalog lists several Australian Anzacia species, including three from Queensland and NSW but the identification of each individual species is still very difficult from photos such as those presented on this page and also because the range of each known Australian Anzacia species is not yet adequately established.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: None.