Field Guide to Spiders of Australia

Cover
Contents
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
From arachnophobia to arachnophilia
How to use this book
Determining species – everything helps, including genitals
Australia’s rich arachnological history
Parts of a spider – the need-to-know terms
	Shortcuts to identification
	Behaviour
	Eyes
	Spinnerets
	Location
	Webs
	Burrows
	Egg sacs
	Leaf-curlers
Spider families from A to Z
Araneomorphae
	Araneidae Orb-weavers
		Araneinae Classic Orb-weavers
			Araneus – a huge task of discovery and classification
			Backobourkia – a true Aussie genus
			Cyclosa – a genus needing some serious attention
			New discoveries in the west, with some shared
		Argiopinae St Andrew’s Cross Spiders and allies
		Cyrtarachninae Shiny Orb-weavers
		Cyrtophorinae Tent-web Orb-weavers
		Gasteracanthinae Spiny Orb-weavers
		Mastophorinae Bolas Spiders and allies
		Nephilinae Golden Orb-weavers
			Kleptoparasites – who’s been stealing from my web?
		Zygiellinae Leaf-curling Orb-weavers
			Where did they come from and how did they get here?
	Arkyidae Ambush-hunters
		Variations galore – and they all look like poo
		A case of convergence – ambush-hunters among flowers
	Clubionidae Sac Spiders
	Corinnidae Swift Spiders and Ant Mimics
		Ticopa – a corinnid with an unusual biology
	Deinopidae Net-casting Spiders
	Desidae Intertidal and House Spiders
	Eutichuridae Slender Sac Spiders
		The problem of species, subspecies and forms
	Filistatidae Crevice Weavers
	Gnaphosidae Ground Spiders
		The gnaphosid genus Eilica – running with ants
	Hersiliidae Two-tailed Spiders
	Lamponidae White‐tailed Spiders
	Linyphiidae Money Spiders
	Lycosidae Wolf Spiders
	Mimetidae Pirate Spiders
	Miturgidae Prowling Spiders
	Nicodamidae Red-and-black Spiders
	Oxyopidae Lynx Spiders
	Pholcidae Daddy Long-legs Spiders
	Pisauridae Fishing Spiders
	Prodidomidae Long-spinneret Speedsters
	Salticidae Jumping Spiders
		Jumping Spider diversity – so many species, so little time
		Is it an ant? Or is it an ant-mimicking Jumping Spider?
		Peacock Spiders – tiny dancers going viral as video stars
		When is a Maratus not a Maratus? This is the question.
		Ant, ant, on the wall, who mimics you best of all?
		Calling all citizen scientists for project Opisthoncus
		Extraordinary hunting strategies for a spider specialist
		Separating Servaea species – DNA helps paint the picture
	Scytodidae Spitting Spiders
	Segestriidae Tube-web Spiders
	Sparassidae Huntsman Spiders
	Tetragnathidae Long-jawed Spiders
	Theridiidae Comb-footed Spiders
		The Redback Spider – an Australian now living overseas
		Tiny forest jewels – spectacular Thwaitesia spiders
	Thomisidae Crab Spiders
		Notes on some recent name changes
		A remarkable find – the missing male of a famous female
		A spectacular ambush-hunter – Thomisus spectabilis
	Trochanteriidae Unusual Flatties
	Uloboridae Venomless Spiders
	Zodariidae Ant-eating Spiders
Mygalomorphae
	Actinopodidae Mouse Spiders
	Barychelidae Brush-footed Trapdoor Spiders
	Ctenizidae Saddle-legged Trapdoor Spiders
	Dipluridae Curtain-web Spiders
	Hexathelidae Australian Funnelweb Spiders
	Idiopidae Spiny Trapdoor Spiders
	Migidae Tree Trapdoor Spiders
	Nemesiidae Wishbone Spiders
		An expert’s eye view of a Wishbone Spider
	Theraphosidae Australian Tarantulas
Little-known spider families
	Agelenidae Funnel Weavers
	Amaurobiidae Hackled-mesh Weavers
	Ammoxenidae Termite Hunters
	Anapidae Tiny Orb-weavers
	Anyphaenidae Seashore Spiders
	Archaeidae Assassin Spiders
	Austrochilidae Tasmanian Cave Spiders
	Cithaeronidae Cosmopolitan Spider Hunters
	Cyatholipidae Tree Sheet-web Spiders
	Ctenidae Wandering Spiders
	Cycloctenidae Scuttling Spiders
	Dictynidae Mesh-web Spiders
	Dysderidae Woodlouse Hunters
	Gallieniellidae Long-jawed Ground Spiders
	Gradungulidae Long-claw Spiders
	Hahniidae Comb‐tailed Spiders
	Malkaridae Shield Spiders
	Liocranidae Spiny‐legged Sac Spiders
	Mysmenidae Minute Litter Spiders
	Nesticidae Cave Cobweb Spinners
	Ochyroceratidae Midget Ground Weavers
	Oecobiidae Midget House Spiders
	Oonopidae Goblin Spiders
	Orsolobidae Six-eyed Ground Spiders
	Physoglenidae Hair-spike Synotaxids
	Philodromidae Running Crab Spiders
	Periegopidae Wide-clawed Spiders
	Phrurolithidae Small Swift Spiders
	Psechridae Lace-sheet Weavers
	Selenopidae Flatties
	Sicariidae Recluse Spiders
	Symphytognathidae Dwarf Orb-weaving Spiders
	Stenochilidae Diamond-headed Spiders
	Stiphidiidae Platform Spiders
	Tetrablemmidae Armoured Spiders
	Theridiosomatidae Ray Spiders
	Toxopidae Southern Hunting Spiders
	Trachelidae Ground Sac Spiders
	Zoropsidae False Wolf Spiders
Glossary
Photo credits
Readings
Index
Index of family common names
Spiders – family tree