eathan_douglas's Favourites

Online resources suggest only two options in Tas: conifera and turrigera. Behaviourally slightly different than existing data suggests, less stenophagic and hunting during daylight. Slight speciation of conifera maybe?? I don't know.

I. victorialis diagnosis: Male embolic flange raised prodistally. Tegular apophysis long, extending past mid-point of cymbium width; apex blunt, slightly curved; well spaced from flange.

I. cerussata (a closely related species with a very similar pattern) diagnosis: Male embolic flange SLIGHTLY raised prodistally. Tegular apophysis extends ALMOST to mid-point of cymbium width; apex somewhat bent, bluntly rounded; well spaced from flange. Whole embolic area broad.

Long tegular apophysis is only mentioned in isopedella victorialis in key to males.

The paper only mentions two species with a broad embolic base in the key to males as well. I. victorialis and I. cerina but both have very different distributions.

I. cerussata male palp: https://www.wildsouthaustralia.info/Spiders/Araneomorph/Sparassidae/Isopedella-cerussata/i-VpVdg3d/A

I. cerussata has a narrower tegular apophysis, a less broad embolic base and a lower male embolic flange that is more even in height along its length which can be seen in the one in the link here in comparison to mine.

ID based on location and the key to males on Hirst 1993; carapace and legs grey-brown, the long tegular apophysis which extends past mid point of cymbium, the embolic base extending prolaterally and a high flange.

Photo 1 showing embolic sclerite
Photo 2 showing tegular apophysis and flange
Photo 3 showing embolic base extending prodistally.

Same species as this one? https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/26288068
I only got this one shot in-situ and then tried to get it to move on to a stick for a better photo. As soon as it was on the stick it leaped into the retaining wall and I couldn't find it again.

dense 7.8.2 rainforest 695m on large leaf of Alocasia brisbanensis where it had folded over a semicircular portion of leaf the size of a dinner plate, the fold hinge appeared to have been weakened by the spider, the leaf fold was nearly flat but retained a small tube along the fold hinge presumably to attract insects., the host plant is very toxic, a second folded leaf on the same plant presumably contained a second spider, no sign of any web material