Long thought in this guide to be a similar spider in the Philodromidae Tibellus tenellus this specimen is in fact a Zorid. Thanks to Robert Raven for the correction. Only two Thasyraea spp. have been described, and both of these only from females. T. ornata is from Queensland, and is the type species for the genus, while T. lepida is from NSW. Their habitat is moist gullies in well vegetated woodland. Most guides show this spider as Tibellus tenellus which has a much more squared off head, and smaller eyes, wider apart. The error of identification has been passed down from earlier arachnologists. This Zorid, like many others, has projecting strong hairs between the front eyes, which the Philodromidae lack. The eyes of Zoridae are much larger, especially the posterior laterals, and are on hairy tubercles. The eyes of Tibellus tenellus are very small and not on hairy bumps.
- Female from above
- Wide, body length 7mm
- Closeup
- From above on golden leaf
- Closeup of face with cute pointy hair
- Female North Stradbroke Island facing
- From above North Stradbroke Island
Female from above
This specimen collected at Green Hill Reservoir, Chapel Hill. Latitude: 27.495338º S Longitude: 152.956444º E Altitude: 80m on Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Wide, body length 7mm
Closeup
From above on golden leaf
Closeup of face with cute pointy hair
Female North Stradbroke Island facing
From above North Stradbroke Island
