This site is a working draft for a field guide to Australian (and possibly New Zealand) spiders due to be published in 2014-15. Some pages are informally vetted by experts in the field, but any errors are ours, not theirs. As images and sightings get added, we'll tell you here. Please let us know if you spot any errors. If you want to follow the updates subscribe to RSS feed for this page by clicking the RSS link in the address bar.

Opisthoncus sp., a common Australian jumping spider

Checklist of Australian Spiders, 2012
by Volker W. Framenau, Australian Arachnological Society 

Maratus splendens (Rainbow 1896)

Missulena occatoria Walckenaer, 1805 Red-headed Mouse Spider
The Red-Headed Mouse Spider is found in most habitats, from open forests to desert shrublands. Males, with their bright red cephalothorax and blue-black abdomen, wander in search of females in Spring and Summer. 

'Araneus' cyphoxis Simon, 1908 Western Bush Orb Weaver
This spider is common in southwest Western Australia into South Australia, very similar to Araneus eburnus from the east coast. 

ARANEIDAE updated
The Araneids are now in subfamilies. Friday, 1 April 2011. Really! 

Zenodorus metallescens
At last a live Zenodorus metallescens photo thanks to Vesko Petkov. 

Phoroncidia sextuberculata
New photos of both the dark and light form and the male. 

Simaetha sp NQ Simaetha
A blocky looking jumping spider. 

STIPHIDIIDAE

Canama hinnulea (Thorell, 1881)

Maratus sp. Stanley, north west Tasmania

Maratus volans (O. Pickard-Cambridge 1874) Flying Peacock Spider

Urogelides daviesae Long-tailed Jumping Spider
This amazing jumper with movable "tail-feathers" was collected by Ben Schablon at Myrtle Creek and photographed by Martin Stevens. 

'Cytaea' xanthopus (Thorell 1881)
The external female genitalia, the epigyne, appears identical to two species already known but under investigation. 

Opisthoncus sp. North Queensland
A distinctive, medium-large, yet slender jumping spider close to Opisthoncus but not firmly placed in that genus. 

Cosmophasis bitaeniata juvenile
Probably female of this species but hard to tell. Very pretty. 

Tauala sp.
A beautiful spider with a highly arched cephalothorax and huge eyes. 

Maratus vespertilio (Simon 1901) Bat-like Maratus

Maratus sp. Blue-thighed Peacock Spider

Maratus sp. Stirling Ranges Darlington's Peacock Spider

Thwaitesia nigronodosa
Which Thwaitesia is which? 

Thwaitesia argentiopunctata

Sandalodes superbus (Kasrch)
The largest and most robust species of Sandalodes, body length of females up to 12mm males up to 11mm. 

'Trite' longula
Not a true Trite.