Meshweavers - Family: Dictynidae
|
The Dictynidae are a large family of 474 species in 53 genera of which only one species may be seen in the Northern Rivers. This species, Callephopthalmus maculatus, is a very small spider with dark yellow cephalothorax and bright yellow legs. The abdomen is a 'bright' grey with white spots and a larger square black patch near the front.
|
The length of the spider is not much more than 2.0 mm and due to this small size would be hard to find. If it its' behaviour is similar to other members of this family, they would be found on or close to the ground amongst small plants, leaf litter and/or other debris. Look for irregular, small webs that appear to be just a mess of tangled lines.
|
|
There is a second species listed in the 'Atlas of Living Australia', Dictyna urquharti, but Paquin et al. (2008) provides good reasons for the validity of this name to be considered doubtful. The specimen on which the identification work was done is currently no longer in a condition that is useful for confirmation as to which species it actually belongs to.
D. urquharti is now considered a 'nomen dubium'. |
|
Callephopthalmus maculatus (possible occurrence)
|
Taxonomy:
Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods)
> Subphylum: Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
> Class: Arachnida (Arachnids)
> Order: Aranea (Spiders)
> Suborder: Araneomorphae (Typical Spiders)
> Infraorder: Entelegynea (Entelegyne Spiders)
> Superfamily: Dictynoidea (Meshweavers and Allies)
> Family: Dictynidae (Meshweavers)
> Genus: Callephopthalmus
> Species: C. maculatus ^
* = likely
^ = possibly
References and links:
> Beatty, J.A. and Berry, J.W., (1989). 'Four new species of Paratheuma (Araneae, Desidae) from the Pacific.' Journal of Arachnology 16(3, 1988): 339-347.
> Keyserling, E., (1890). 'Die Arachniden Australiens, nach der Natur beschrieben und abgebildet. Zweiter Theil (Lieferung 37).' Bauer & Raspe, Nürnberg, 233-274, pl. 21-24. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.121660
> Paquin, P., Vink, C., Dupérré, N., Sirvid, P.J. and Court, D.J., (2008). 'Nomina dubia and faunistic issues with New Zealand spiders (Araneae).' Insecta Mundi 46: 1-6.
> Sundevall, C.J., (1833). 'Conspectus Arachnidium.' C. F. Berling, Londini Gothorum [= Lund], pp. 1-39.
> Beatty, J.A. and Berry, J.W., (1989). 'Four new species of Paratheuma (Araneae, Desidae) from the Pacific.' Journal of Arachnology 16(3, 1988): 339-347.
> Keyserling, E., (1890). 'Die Arachniden Australiens, nach der Natur beschrieben und abgebildet. Zweiter Theil (Lieferung 37).' Bauer & Raspe, Nürnberg, 233-274, pl. 21-24. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.121660
> Paquin, P., Vink, C., Dupérré, N., Sirvid, P.J. and Court, D.J., (2008). 'Nomina dubia and faunistic issues with New Zealand spiders (Araneae).' Insecta Mundi 46: 1-6.
> Sundevall, C.J., (1833). 'Conspectus Arachnidium.' C. F. Berling, Londini Gothorum [= Lund], pp. 1-39.
Photographic contributions: