Two Spined Spider is one of Australia's most attractive and most photographed spiders. It was first described as Epeira australasica by Griffith & Pigeon in 1833. After many other synonyms it was revised as P. bispinosa by Simon in 1895. Goodwin changed it to P. australasia in 1961 but not from the type. This was finally recognized by Davies in 1981. Females reach body length of about 7 mm, the male 2.5mm. Its snare is a small orb web at night. During the daylight hours it hides underneath green leaves. The papery egg sac is brown and spindle-shaped. Young females and adult males lack the abdominal spurs and the bright colours that characterize the adult females. They also have an unusual sparse pattern of large body hairs which are less prominent on the body of an adult female.
- Sub adult female from above, facing
- Sub adult female from above, rear view
- Sub adult female from behind
- Sub adult female on twig, facing
- Very young juvenile
- Juvenile male
- Juvenile female
- Adolescent female from above
- Male adult facing
- Male adult from above
- Male adult underneath
- Male adult palp, closeup side view
Sub adult female from above, facing
Collected early September 2009 in a patch of good quality remant dry rainforest known as "The Island" on the northern side of the junction of Fish and Enoggera Creeks, Walton Bridge Reserve, The Gap. Body length 6mm.
Sub adult female from above, rear view
Sub adult female from behind
Sub adult female on twig, facing
Very young juvenile
Collected early August 2009 on the northern side of the junction of Fish and Enoggera Creeks, Walton Bridge Reserve, The Gap. Body length: 3mm.
Juvenile male
Juvenile female
Adolescent female from above
A growing spider showing some signs of the "eyes" on its back.
Male adult facing
Body length of the adult male 2-4mm.
Male adult from above
Male adult underneath
Male adult palp, closeup side view
