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 | |
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Scientific 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
- On a leaf of Mallotus claoxyloides, showing butt
- In curved leaf retreat
- In ethanol, from above
- Oblique view, facing
References
- Bern, Natural History Museum. "NMBE - World Spider Catalog". wsc.nmbe.ch. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- "Araneus praesignis | Atlas of Living Australia". bie.ala.org.au. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- "Alien Butt Spider Conquers Earth, Lives in Silk Leaf Huts". Featured Creature. 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
- 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) - Atkinson, Ron. "The Find-a-spider Guide - Araneus praesignis". www.findaspider.org.au. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- "Araneus praesignis (L. Koch, 1872) Alien Butt Spider". www.arachne.org.au. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- "Alien Butt Spider Araneus praesignis a perennial favourite". Flickr. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- 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.
- "Creepy 'alien butt spider' looks like something from another planet - Storytrender". Storytrender. 2017-05-11. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- "TIL the Alien Butt Spider has a butt that looks like an alien". Imgur. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- "Spiders". Pinterest. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- "microcosmos". Pinterest. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- Bryan, Chloe. "Otherworldly 'Alien Butt Spider' photographed in China". Mashable. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
- "How you can cure your spider phobia". NewsComAu. Retrieved 2018-07-01.