A northern species of spiny spider found at least from the Northern Territory to North Queensland, Admiralty Island, New Caledonia and Norfolk Island, probably with a wider range. Keyserling described the female in 1864 under its present name and Koch described it later as Gasteracantha mollusca but neither workers knew the male, pictured here but not yet officially described. The female is extremely attractive, with eucalypt green, orange and yellow coloured patterns, very dark cherry red spines and pits decorating the flared abdomen, much wider than long. ♀ 8mm ♂ 3mm
- Female, Darwin GJA-6669
- Male, Darwin GJA-6673
- Female at Holmes Jungle, Darwin, NT
- Female at Holmes Jungle, Darwin, NT underneath
- Females, Koch & Keyserling plate 1
Female, Darwin GJA-6669
Photo: Dr Greg Anderson
Male, Darwin GJA-6673
Photo: Dr Greg Anderson
Female at Holmes Jungle, Darwin, NT
Photo: Jon Clarke
Female at Holmes Jungle, Darwin, NT underneath
Photo: Jon Clarke
Females, Koch & Keyserling plate 1
Illustration L. Koch
