Therlinya species

Fact Box Species: Therlinya species (or a closely related genus; see notes below for the reference to the paper by Michael Gray and Helen Smith on which this identification is based) Family: Stiphidiidae Body length: female: 4 mm male: 3.5 mm Habitat: This species is usually found in leaf litter or bark crevices Toxicity: Unknown but this spider is probably far too small to cause any kind of illness in humans

View from above Underneath female Female epigynum The male Underneath male

The above spider is identified as a Therlinya species on the basis of the contents of the following paper: Gray M.R. and Smith H.M. (2002) "Therlinya, a new genus of spiders from Eastern Australia (Araneae: amaurobioidea)" Records of the Australian Museum, 54, 293-312.

Therlinya distinguishes itself from other similar stiphidiids in lacking and longitudinal banding on the front half of its body.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: A variety of spider species have the same 'average' body and leg shape and lycosid-like markings, but stiphidiids have a divided cribellum in front of the spinnerets distinguish them from many of the spiders that superficially resemble them.