Araneus praesignis

Araneus praesignis[1] is a species of orb-weaving spider found in Queensland, Australia where it is widespread and common in well-vegetated areas. The Atlas of Living Australia[2] shows a record from New South Wales. It has bold black blobs on its rear, perhaps mimicking eyes. In 2014 Carly Brooke Martinetti gave it the common name "Alien Butt Spider"[3] by which it became internationally known.[4][5][6][7] Due to its memorable common name and strange appearance photographs of the spider have appeared in many online blogs and galleries.[8][9][10][11][12] The purported 2015 sighting from China [13] is of a different species of orb weaver because it has a different pattern of dark patches on the back and the photo does not show the actual alien eyes from which the common name is derived.

Araneus praesignis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Araneidae
Genus: Araneus
Species:
A. praesignis
Binomial name
Araneus praesignis

Description and taxonomy

Both males ( body length 5 mm) and females (7 mm) of Araneus praesignis have large black decorations on the upper rear (dorsal posterior) of the abdomen, thought to be a case of Batesian mimicry where an animal has markings making it appear larger and more threatening than it really is.[4] The spider was described by Ludwig Koch in Die Arachniden Australiens, 1872.

Biology

Araneus praesignis shelters during the day in a silk-bound retreat made in a non-fully-closed leaf nearby where its web is erected at night. Its food is night-flying insects and other invertebrates.[4] It is harmless to humans and can be handled by people without medical consequences although allergic reactions may be possible.[14]

  • Araneus praesignis genitalia, left male, right female
    Araneus praesignis genitalia, left male, right female
  • On a leaf of Mallotus claoxyloides, showing butt
    On a leaf of Mallotus claoxyloides, showing butt
  • In curved leaf retreat
    In curved leaf retreat
  • In ethanol, from above
    In ethanol, from above
  • Oblique view, facing
    Oblique view, facing

References
  1. Bern, Natural History Museum. "NMBE - World Spider Catalog". wsc.nmbe.ch. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  2. "Araneus praesignis | Atlas of Living Australia". bie.ala.org.au. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  3. "Alien Butt Spider Conquers Earth, Lives in Silk Leaf Huts". Featured Creature. 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
  4. Whyte, Robert; Anderson, Greg (2017). A field guide to spiders of Australia. Clayton South, VIC. ISBN 9780643107076. OCLC 971943480.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. Atkinson, Ron. "The Find-a-spider Guide - Araneus praesignis". www.findaspider.org.au. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  6. "Araneus praesignis (L. Koch, 1872) Alien Butt Spider". www.arachne.org.au. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  7. "Alien Butt Spider Araneus praesignis a perennial favourite". Flickr. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  8. Bowers, Mike (2017-06-06). "Close encounters of the furred kind: alien butt spider and friends – in pictures". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  9. "Creepy 'alien butt spider' looks like something from another planet - Storytrender". Storytrender. 2017-05-11. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  10. "TIL the Alien Butt Spider has a butt that looks like an alien". Imgur. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  11. "Spiders". Pinterest. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  12. "microcosmos". Pinterest. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  13. Bryan, Chloe. "Otherworldly 'Alien Butt Spider' photographed in China". Mashable. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  14. "How you can cure your spider phobia". NewsComAu. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
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