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Arkys furcatus (Balogh, 1978) Mascord's Pretty Archemorus

A pretty Arkys species recorded by Mascord as Archemorus species (Mascord 1980, page 79 plate 30.6). He intended to name it A. pulcherrimus. Balogh meanwhile named it Archemorus furcatus in 1978, although his illustrations are incorrectly labelled, the male and the female being swapped. It is a medium-sized ambush hunter, usually camouflaged among branches and foliage, with a complicated pattern and body shape, light brown to orange in colour, with transparent sections and whitish flecks and lines. The double pointed abdomen, somewhat like Cyrtophora exanthematica) and patterns in orange or brown are distinctive. The male's abdomen ends in extravagantly long projections possibly helping disguise which end of the spider is the front. It may resemble a small grasshopper or similar arthropod. When in repose the spider is tucked up in a debris-like rectangular shape. ♀ 8mm ♂ 5mm

Female from above

Arkys sp
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female from above, on the move


Arkys sp
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female, side view


Arkys sp
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female from above, spiny legs concealing face


Arkys sp
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female from above on Alectryon tomentosus twig


Arkys sp
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female 4710 from above in alcohol


Arkys sp
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female 4710 from side in alcohol


Arkys sp
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female 4710 in alcohol facing


Arkys sp
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female 4710 underneath


Arkys sp
Photo: Robert Whyte

Female 4710 epigynum


Arkys sp
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male adult from above


Arkys sp
Photo: Robert Whyte

Male palps


Arkys sp.

Male Freshwater National Park


Arkys furatus
Photo: Dr Greg Anderson

References


 
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