A tiny spider, the male only 2.5mm total body length, common in leaf-litter from South Australia to South East Queensland, cryptically coloured against the litter and almost impossible to spot with the naked eye. Neon is a world wide genus presenting a puzzle for biogeography as it is clearly not introduced, being found in remote wilderness. With a broad head and posterior lateral eyes very wide on the sides of the head and shaggy fringed legs 1 and 2, it resembles Harmochirus , but the absolute clincher is the classic Neon palp with a long thin embolus In three separate circling spirals, two on the side and one on the top. Under the microscope the face shows reflective guanine crystals through the reddish brown integument. ♀ 3mm ♂ 2.6mm
- Male AUS-1508 Laguna NSW
- Male AUS-1508 Laguna NSW
- Male AUS-1508 Laguna NSW
- Male AUS-1508 Laguna NSW
- Male AUS-1508 Laguna NSW
- Male AUS-1508 Laguna NSW face in alcohol showing guanine crystals
- Male AUS-1508 Laguna NSW, classic Neon palp
- References
Male AUS-1508 Laguna NSW
Photo: Robert Whyte
Male AUS-1508 Laguna NSW
Photo: Robert Whyte
Male AUS-1508 Laguna NSW
Photo: Robert Whyte
Male AUS-1508 Laguna NSW
Photo: Iain R. Macaulay
Male AUS-1508 Laguna NSW
Photo: Iain R. Macaulay
Male AUS-1508 Laguna NSW face in alcohol showing guanine crystals
Photo: Robert Whyte
Male AUS-1508 Laguna NSW, classic Neon palp
Photo: Robert Whyte
References
- Richardson, 2013 - New unidentate jumping spider genera (Araneae: Salticidae) from Australia
