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Stephanopis barpipes Keyserling, 1890 Bearded-legs Stephanopis

A small crab spider in low foliage sometimes in great numbers. Adult females body length up to 7mm. The males are smaller but have longer legs I and II and is easily recognised by the large hairy tufts on the metatarsi of leg I. Rather than a pale buff-cream abdomen the male often has a yellow to brown abdomen and generally darker coloured legs. As Mascord points out Stephanopis barpipes females and Sidymella lobata are very similar (Spiders of Australia, 1980). Koch originally listed Sidymella lobata as Stephanopis lobata. Mascord actually saw his female copulating with the unmistakable male Stephanopis barbipes. It seems the Stephanopis barpipes have small spikes instead of holes nearly at the top of the upper surface of the abdomen and dark banding on the near tips of the front legs (see Mascord 1980 p. 95).

Female facing

Stephanopis barbipes
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female from above


Stephanopis barbipes
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male


Stephanopis barbipes male
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male leg beard


Stephanopis barbipes male
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male from behind, waving arms 1


Stephanopis barbipes male
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male from behind, waving arms 2


Stephanopis barbipes male
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male facing


Stephanopis barbipes male
Photo: Robert Whyte

Another male, facing


Stephanopis barbipes male
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female, facing


Stephanopis barbipes female
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female playing dead upside down


Stephanopis barbipes female
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female, oblique


Stephanopis barbipes female
Photo: Robert Whyte

Another female


Stephanopis barbipes female
Photo: Robert Whyte

 

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