The silver-sided 'fatback' is common on Enoggera Creek. Body length of the male about 1.8mm, female about 2.5mm. The female's abdomen tends to be somewhat peaked. They are marked with silvery scales on the sides of the abdomen, and often have yellow areas on the underneath of the abdomen near the spinnerets.
- Phoroncidia 'fatback' facing
- Phoroncidia 'fatback' from side, underneath
- Phoroncidia 'fatback' facing, on stick
- Phoroncidia 'fatback' from side, above
- Phoroncidia 'fatback'. Another specimen, oblique view
- Phoroncidia 'fatback'. Another specimen, from behind
- Phoroncidia 'fatback'. Another specimen, in alcohol
- Phoroncidia 'fatback', male from above, facing
- Phoroncidia 'fatback', male facing, showing turret
- Phoroncidia 'fatback', male from underneath, showing yellow patch and spinerettes
- Phoroncidia 'fatback', male pedipalps alongside face
- Phoroncidia 'fatback', male 070610 from above
- Phoroncidia 'fatback', male 070610 facing
- Phoroncidia 'fatback', male 070610 from underneath
- Phoroncidia 'fatback', male 070610 palp
- Phoroncidia 'fatback', male 070610 palp
- Female 18710 in alcohol from side
Phoroncidia 'fatback' facing
After a while it becomes easy to recognize this little Phoroncidia in the field. It is a small spider with strong white markings on the sides and sometimes upper surface of the shiny, hard abdomen. Usually between 1 and 3mm in body length. Underneath there is usually a yellow patch before stubby converging spinerettes. The caput (top of cephalothorax) and face (eye area) is more or less turreted. The modified pedipalps of the male (genitals) are lare and globular. If it falls onto a hard surface it sometimes makes a bright click on impact, because of its sclerotized (hardened) abdomen. The abdomen always more or less peaked, not spherical like Phoroncidia rotunda or extremely highly peaked like some other species. It is often recognizable as a small, relatively slowly moving spider with its shiny abdomen sparkling to the naked eye.
Phoroncidia 'fatback' from side, underneath
Phoroncidia 'fatback' facing, on stick
Phoroncidia 'fatback' from side, above
Phoroncidia 'fatback'. Another specimen, oblique view
Phoroncidia 'fatback'. Another specimen, from behind
Phoroncidia 'fatback'. Another specimen, in alcohol
Phoroncidia 'fatback', male from above, facing
This male has a central white mark on the front of the abdomen, a yellow underneath and a distinct squat, not very peaked shape. Collected on the creek near the SOWN shed, Paten Park in early July 2009. Body length about 1.5mm. The cephalothorax is somewhat broad in this specimen, slightly turreted.
Phoroncidia 'fatback', male facing, showing turret
This views a quite pronounced turret with the eyes on the front. Some very small spiders like this may hatch out more or less sexually mature. Ther may moult one or two times if they have a chance to feed and grow, but some may be able to mate virtually from birth.
Phoroncidia 'fatback', male from underneath, showing yellow patch and spinerettes
Phoroncidia 'fatback', male pedipalps alongside face
The pedipalps make the head look broad, especially as the 'knees' reflect like eyes, but the cephalothorax is narrowed into a turret.
Phoroncidia 'fatback', male 070610 from above
Phoroncidia 'fatback', male 070610 facing
Phoroncidia 'fatback', male 070610 from underneath
Phoroncidia 'fatback', male 070610 palp
Phoroncidia 'fatback', male 070610 palp
Female 18710 in alcohol from side
