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Poltys illepidus C. L. Koch, 1843 Tree Stump Spider

Poltys is a distinctive araneid genus recognized by widely separated lateral eyes and a pear-shaped carapace where the "stalk" of the pear is an eye tubercle. The Australian species are active at night, building fine meshed orb webs. Adult males are small and do not make webs. Females are medium to large spiders. Moths are the most frequent prey. The spiders are camouflaged during the day, motionless on vegetation, the legs drawn tightly around the cephalothorax with just the median eyes protruding between the legs. In this position they resemble part of a dead twig, a gall or a broken piece of wood. P. illepidus is one of the most common and widespread species the genus, found throughough coastal northern Australia and South East Asia. The type was found in Singapore. The name illepidus means rude, rough or disagreeable and was probably thought to be appropriate to rather lumpy and irregularly shaped specimens. ♀ 10mm ♂ 6mm (Smith 2006)

Specimen from Singapore


Poltys illepidus
Photo: Nicky Bay

Female, Holmes Jungle, Darwin, Dec 2011


Poltys illepidus
Photo: Dr Greg Anderson

Male facing, Singapore May 2008


Poltys illepidus
Photo: H. K. Tang

Male from behind, showing abdomen, Singapore 2008


Poltys illepidus
Photo: H. K. Tang

Female from side, face at right, Singapore March 2008


Poltys illepidus
Photo: H. K. Tang

References


  • Poltys in Australasia - SMITH, HELEN M., 2006. A revision of the genus Poltys in Australasia (Araneae: Araneidae). Records of the Australian Museum 58(1): 43-96
 
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