| Gasteracantha recurva | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Araneidae |
| Genus: | Gasteracantha |
| Species: | G. recurva |
| Binomial name | |
| Gasteracantha recurva | |
Gasteracantha recurva is a species of spiny orb-weaver spider in the genus Gasteracantha . It was described from Manila, Philippines in 1877. [1]
Gasteracantha recurva was described and illustrated by French naturalist Eugène Simon from a specimen he said was found in Manila by G. A. Baer. Simon wrote that the specimen had an abdomen measuring 8.5 millimeters wide by 5 millimeters long, with two pairs of spines on the sides. The anterior pair was very small and acutely pointed. The second pair was described as nearly five times longer than the first (or 4.2 mm long) and quite robust, jutting out from the abdomen for two-thirds of the spines' length and then curving backward in the last third. These spines bore about ten small tubercles at the point at which they curved backward. The specimen did not bear any spines on the posterior margin of its abdomen. Simon described the upper surface of the abdomen as fawn-red with black spines and sigilla. The ventral surface was black with reddish bands. [2]
In 1914, Friedrich Dahl noted that the Berlin Zoological Museum possessed a single well-preserved dry specimen of the species labeled "Luzon (Jagor)." He described the somewhat sinuous nature of the prominent abdominal spines and the tubercles studded at the bend. He mused that the specimen might represent a deformed individual of Gasteracantha hecata but then rejected the thought. [3]
Austracantha is a genus of spider with a single species, Austracantha minax, commonly known as the jewel spider or the Christmas spider. It is a member of the family Araneidae and is endemic to Australia. They are relatively small spiders, reaching a maximum total body length of only around 12 mm (0.47 in) for females, and 5 mm (0.20 in) for males. Their abdomen has six distinctive projections ("spines") that makes them easy to identify. They are predominantly a shiny black, with variable white, yellow, and orange patterns. Melanistic forms also occur during autumn. They are facultatively gregarious, and can be found in large aggregations of overlapping orb webs. They feed on small flying insects that get entangled in their webs. They are harmless to humans, though the webs can be a nuisance for bushwalkers. They are most abundant during the summer months.
Gasteracantha is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first named by Carl Jakob Sundevall in 1833. The females of most species are brightly colored with six prominent spines on their broad, hardened, shell-like abdomens. The name Gasteracantha is derived from the Greek gaster (γαστήρ), meaning "belly, abdomen", and akantha (άκανθα), meaning "thorn, spine". Spiny-backed orb-weavers are sometimes colloquially called "crab spiders" because of their shape, but they are not closely related to the true crab spiders. Other colloquial names for certain species include thorn spider, star spider, kite spider, or jewel spider.
Gasteracantha cancriformis is a species of orb-weaver spider. It is widely distributed in the New World.
Thelacantha is a genus of orb-weaver spiders containing the single species, Thelacantha brevispina. It was first described by A. W. M. van Hasselt in 1882, and has been found in Australia, Madagascar, and across southern Asia from India to Philippines, including Japan. It has also been introduced into Hawaii. T. brevispina is closely related those in the genus Gasteracantha, and was briefly synonymized with it in 1859, but revalidated in 1974. Saito described three other Thelacantha species in 1933, which were later synonymized with T. brevispina.
Cyrtophora parangexanthematica is a species of tent spider found in the Philippines. Its scientific name comes from its close resemblance to double-tailed tent spiders. It was described from a single female specimen collected in 1995.
Gasteracantha remifera is a species of spiny orb-weaver spider in the genus Gasteracantha. It is found in Sri Lanka and India, and it has a pair of long, club-shaped spines on its abdomen.
Macracantha is a genus of Asian orb-weaver spiders recognized as containing a single species, Macracantha arcuata. Macracantha is notable for the extremely long, curved spines on the abdomens of female members of the genus; Eugène Simon created the taxon name from the Greek words μακρός and ἄκανθα (spine). It occurs from India and China through Southeast Asia to Borneo.
Togacantha is a genus of orb-weaver spiders found in Africa. It is monotypic and contains the single species Togacantha nordviei. It was first described as a subgenus of Gasteracantha by Friedrich Dahl in 1914, and was later elevated to genus status. Only the female was known until a male was found and described in 1982.
Opadometa fastigata, the pear-shaped leucauge, is a species of spiders in the family Tetragnathidae. It is found in India to Philippines and Sulawesi.
Gasteracantha kuhli is a species of spiny orb-weaver spider in the genus Gasteracantha, widespread from India to Japan, the Philippines, and Java in Indonesia. It is known as the black-and-white spiny spider.
Gasteracantha clavatrix is a species of spider of the genus Gasteracantha. It occurs in Indonesia.
Gasteracantha clavigera is a species of spider in the spiny orb-weaver genus Gasteracantha.
Gasteracantha diardi is a species of spider in the spiny orb-weaver genus Gasteracantha. It occurs in Southeast Asia.
Gasteracantha mengei is a species of spider in the spiny orb-weaver genus Gasteracantha. Its range includes Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, and Sumatra in Indonesia.
Gasteracantha quadrispinosa, the four-spined jewel spider, is a brightly coloured species of spider in the spiny orb-weaver genus Gasteracantha. It occurs in wet forests of Queensland, Australia, and New Guinea, where it builds vertical orb webs approximately 1.5 m across and hangs in the centre of the web to wait for prey.
Gasteracantha westringi is a species of spiny orb-weaver spider in the genus Gasteracantha. It is found in Australasia, including New Caledonia and Norfolk Island, and it has a wing-shaped abdomen armed with red and black spines.
Gasteracantha gambeyi is a species of spiny orb-weaver spider in the genus Gasteracantha. It was described from New Caledonia.
Gasteracantha interrupta is a species of spiny orb-weaver spider in the genus Gasteracantha. It is black and white in color, and it occurs in the Lesser Sundas and Sulawesi in Indonesia.
Gasteracantha hecata is a species of spider in the spiny orb-weaver genus Gasteracantha. It occurs in the Philippines and has prominent horn-like spines on its abdomen.
Exechocentrus lancearius is a species of spider in the orb-weaver spider family Araneidae, found only in Madagascar. It was initially described from a partial specimen of an adult female. The first description of a complete specimen and its prey-catching behaviour was published in 2012. E. lancearius is a bolas spider. Rather than using a web, adult females catch their prey by using a line with one or two sticky drops which they swing.