As the species names suggests, this Lynx spider is extremely variable In pattern and colour. It is found in most types of vegetation, favouring grasses. Mostly found in Queensland, but also in coastal and inland parts of Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia and NSW. Both males and females may be light coloured, dark, blotchy, reddish, brown, cream, white or yellow. The front legs do not have black lines running lengthways along the inside, instead being rather textured with scales. These scales cover the body and make the spider less see-through than many others. The easiest way to tell O. variabilis apart from other similarly small and compact lynx spiders is by the large light-coloured V on the top of the head, the arms of the V spreading from the centre of the head towards the sides of the head at the front near the eyes. This V shape may be faint to the point of being almost invisible. The underneath of the abdomen has a pale central section below the epigyne, where others in the group are dark. ♀ 7mm ♂ 5mm
- Female from above, pale but classic pattern
- Female, pale, classic pattern from side
- Female, high contrast markings
- Female, reddish grey-brown in lichen-covered twigs, Kidaman Creek, Sunshine Coast
- Female, strong pattern, from above The Gap, Brisbane
- Juvenile resting on silk strands, The Gap, Brisbane
- Male, The Gap, Brisbane
- Male in alcohol with palps, Rinn Ave, Bunya Queensland
- Die Arachniden Australiens, Plate 90
Female from above, pale but classic pattern
Female, pale, classic pattern from side
Female, high contrast markings
Female, reddish grey-brown in lichen-covered twigs, Kidaman Creek, Sunshine Coast
Female, strong pattern, from above The Gap, Brisbane
Juvenile resting on silk strands, The Gap, Brisbane
Male, The Gap, Brisbane
Male in alcohol with palps, Rinn Ave, Bunya Queensland
Die Arachniden Australiens, Plate 90
