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Gasteracantha westringi Keyserling, 1863 Westring's Spiny Spider

A northern species of spiny spider found at least from the Northern Territory to North Queensland, Admiralty Island, New Caledonia and Norfolk Island, probably with a wider range. Keyserling described the female in 1864 under its present name and Koch described it later as Gasteracantha mollusca but neither workers knew the male, pictured here but not yet officially described. The female is extremely attractive, with eucalypt green, orange and yellow coloured patterns, very dark cherry red spines and pits decorating the flared abdomen, much wider than long. ♀ 8mm ♂ 3mm

Female, Darwin GJA-6669


Gasteracantha westringi
Photo: Dr Greg Anderson

Male, Darwin GJA-6673


Gasteracantha westringi
Photo: Dr Greg Anderson

Female at Holmes Jungle, Darwin, NT


Gasteracantha westringis
Photo: Jon Clarke

Female at Holmes Jungle, Darwin, NT underneath


Gasteracantha westringi
Photo: Jon Clarke

Females, Koch & Keyserling plate 1


Gasteracantha westringi
Illustration L. Koch

 

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