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Chrysso pulcherrima (Mello-Leitão, 1917) Beautiful Little Chrysso

This spider is found in green vegetation in rainforest and eucalypt forests in Australia. It has a pantropical distribution, being found in most wamer areas of the world. Females have a body length to 4 mm, males to 3.5 mm. Usually only observed on silk when it is shaken off its foliage. Chrysso presumably means golden, and pulcherrima beautiful, from the Latin. In English the word pulchritude means beauty. This species was originally give the name Arygyrodes pulcherrimus. It was changed to Chrysso by Levi. Yoshida has suggested it revert to Meotipa, first suggested by Petrunkevitch in 1930, but this suggestion has not yet been accepted. Despite being placed in a different subfamily this spider is quite similar in ghabitat and behaviour to Thwaitesia.

Cyclosa sp
Photo: Robert Whyte

From above


Chrysso pulcherrima
Photo: Robert Whyte

Oblique view, face on


Chrysso pulcherrima
Photo: Robert Whyte

Side view


Chrysso pulcherrima
Photo: Robert Whyte

Underneath


Chrysso pulcherrima
Photo: Robert Whyte

Another specimen


Collected mid June 2009 on the northern side of the junction of Fish and Enoggera Creeks, Walton Bridge Reserve, The Gap.

Chrysso pulcherrima
Photo: Robert Whyte

Spider with parasite worm?


Chrysso pulcherrima
Photo: Robert Whyte

Strongly coloured with dark leg bands


The leg bands bring to mind that this spider must be closely related to Thwaitesia.

Chrysso pulcherrima
Photo: Robert Whyte

Another specimen from above


Not the same specimen as the One above

Chrysso pulcherrima
Photo: Robert Whyte

Green specimen, Oct 2009, Enoggera Creek


Chrysso pulcherrima
Photo: Robert Whyte

Green specimen


Chrysso pulcherrima
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female from side


Chrysso pulcherrima
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female in alcohol from side


Chrysso pulcherrima
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female genitalia


Chrysso pulcherrima
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female adult Walton Bridge Reserve 300111


Chrysso
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female adult Walton Bridge Reserve in alcohol 310111


Chrysso
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female genitalia Walton Bridge Reserve in alcohol 310111


Chrysso
Photo: Robert Whyte

References


 
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