Heteropoda jugulans
Heteropoda jugulans, sometimes called the brown huntsman, is a species of spider endemic to parts of Eastern Australia. It is a member of the genus Heteropoda of huntsman spider.[2][3]
| Heteropoda jugulans | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Huntsman (probably H. jugulans) inside a lampshade in Sydney | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Sparassidae |
| Genus: | Heteropoda |
| Species: | H. jugulans |
| Binomial name | |
| Heteropoda jugulans (L. Koch, 1876) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Context
Australian Heteropoda species are often difficult to tell apart, with only slight differences in the markings found on their upper bodies; exact identification can only be made by examining the spider's genitals under a microscope.[2] According to Valerie Davies, there are at least 37 Australian Heteropoda species.[4]
Description
H. jugulans has a brown body with various markings: a black X-shaped marking on the head, black chevrons on the body, and often a black V-shaped marking on the underside of the abdomen. The body and head are roughly the same size. Males and females are similar in size, although males have longer legs.[3]
Behaviour
H. jugulans is a nocturnal species, and is typically found in the wild beneath the bark of trees. It will also enter houses, outbuildings and letterboxes at night to hunt, and can climb walls and glass and move across ceilings.[2][3] It is an insectivore, but does not eat most cockroaches.[3]
Range
This is a common species of Heteropoda in South East Queensland, including the suburban Brisbane area. It can apparently be found as far north as Cooktown and Cape Tribulation. It is also found in New South Wales, as far south as Wollongong.[2]
References
- "Heteropoda jugulans (L. Koch, 1876)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 30 Octobrt 2022.
- Atkinson, Ron (21 January 2022). "Huntsman". The Find-a-Spider Guide for the Spiders of Southern Queensland. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- "Brown Huntsman Spider". Museum of Tropical Queensland. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- Davies, V. T. (1994). "The huntsman spiders Heteropoda Laetrille and Yiinthi gen.nov. (Araneae: Heteropodidae) in Australia". In Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 35. pp. 75–122.