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Backobourkia collina (Keyserling, 1886)

Backobourkia collina is the most distinctive of all species in the genus. Males are easily diagnosed by their tiny size (body length < 3 mm) in comparison toB. brounii (body length > 5 mm) and B. heroine (body length > 6 mm). Abdominal patterns are unreliable.

Male subadult North Stradbroke Island


Araneidae collina
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female sub adult North Stradbroke Island


Backobourkia collina
Photo: Robert Whyte

From above in hand

Specimen body length 7mm obtained on Wednesday, 3 June 2009 at 7am shaken from shrubs at the western bank of Fish creek near the Junction of Fish and Enoggera Creeks. Shrubs included Pipturus argenteus, Alectryon tomentosa and Psychotria daphnoides. The spider was probably in its daytime retreat. Weather showery, about 18C. This species builds an orb web in shrubs along water courses to capture prey at night then removes it each morning. Females to 10mm, males to 8mm. The spider was accepted into the collection of the Queensland Museum. It was moved into the new Australian genus Backobourkia in 2010 by Volker Framenau et al.

Araneus collinus
Photo: Robert Whyte

Underneath of spider


Araneus collinus
Photo: Robert Whyte

From behind


Araneus collinus
Photo: Robert Whyte

From side


Araneus collinus
Photo: Robert Whyte

From above closeup


Araneus collinus
Photo: Robert Whyte

 

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