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Phoroncidia sextuberculata (Keyserling, 1890) Six-knobbed Phoroncidia

This Phoroncidia, body length up to about 3mm, height 4mm, is widespread in coastal South East Queensland. Its range is coastal Australia from Cape York in Queensland to Victoria and it has been observed in Perth. The abdomen ranges from pinks to whites to orange, brown and black and has a marbled, sclerotized surface. The cephalothorax and legs are dark brown to black. These spiders are nocturnal predators with a simple web including a single strand of silk with beads of viscous material to sense the impact of insects and snare them. During the day it is hard to spot with legs tucked up usually on a twig. The egg sac is a papery brown sphere about the same size or larger than the spider, with pointed tip where it attaches to woven anchor threads. It was first described by Keyserling in 1980 as Ulesanis. The name sextuberculata means six tubercles or knobs.

Mature female, from above


Phoroncidia sextuberculata
Late Samsonvale, SEQ. Photo: Dr Greg Anderson

Mature female, upside down

Phoroncidia sextuberculata
Late Samsonvale, SEQ. Photo: Dr Greg Anderson

Female from North Stradbroke Island, oblique view


Phoroncidia sextuberculata
Flinders Beach. North Strabdoke, SEQ. Photo: Robert Whyte

Female from North Stradbroke Island, side view


Phoroncidia sextuberculata
Flinders Beach. North Strabdoke, SEQ. Note the mini turret where the eye region projects out over the clypeus (lower face). Photo: Robert Whyte

Female from North Stradbroke Island, facing


Phoroncidia sextuberculata
Flinders Beach. North Strabdoke, SEQ. Photo: Robert Whyte

Female from Perth


Phoroncidia sextuberculata
Photo taken in windy conditions in Kalamunda National Park, Perth. Photo: Farhan Bokhari

Female with snare strand, Alfred Cove, Perth


Phoroncidia sextuberculata
This female has suspended a single strand with blobs of viscous material. Photo: Farhan Bokhari

Pinkish sub-adult male

Phoroncidia sp
This specimen is a male collected early November 2009 at Walton Bridge Reserve. The cephalothorax is at the top of the picture. The spider is resting on the back slope of its abdominal peak. Photo: Robert Whyte

Female brown form Rinn Ave Bunya 301210 note face


Phoroncidia sextuberculata
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female dark brown form Rinn Ave Bunya facing oblique


Phoroncidia sextuberculata
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female dark brown form Rinn Ave Bunya from side behind


Phoroncidia sextuberculata
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female dark brown form Rinn Ave Bunya from side oblique


Phoroncidia sextuberculata
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female pink form Rinn Ave Bunya side view


Phoroncidia sextuberculata dark form
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female dark form Rinn Ave Bunya underneath


Phoroncidia sextuberculata dark form
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male Rinn Ave Bunya from side


Phoroncidia sextuberculata male
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male Rinn Ave Bunya from side


Phoroncidia sextuberculata male
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female pink form Rinn Ave Bunya from above oblique


Phoroncidia sextuberculata pink form
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female pink form Rinn Ave Bunya from above


Phoroncidia sextuberculata pink form
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female pink form Rinn Ave Bunya facing oblique


Phoroncidia sextuberculata pink form
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female pink form Rinn Ave Bunya from above


Phoroncidia sextuberculata pink form
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female pink form Rinn Ave Bunya from side


P
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female pink form Rinn Ave Bunya on leaf edge


Phoroncidia sextuberculata pink form
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female pink form Rinn Ave Bunya underneath


Phoroncidia sextuberculata pink form
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female pink form Rinn Ave Bunya side view


Phoroncidia sextuberculata pink form
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female dark form Rinn Ave Bunya side view


Phoroncidia sextuberculata pink form
Photo: Robert Whyte

 

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