Unidentified spider 4

- No description given -

comments (12)

Claire Hamilton

Lion

These are now absolutely the best I can do. The photo above was taken using a mirror so rather blurred but at least you can now see the markings on the back a little better. Re size, definitely no larger than 3mm, including legs 5mm tops. Posted 11 years ago, modified 11 years ago
1. WildFlower
  
  Lion
  
  As much as tried, I cannot find a good match for this one.
  There is this spider guide that I had mentioned before
  http://www.djaniwildlife.co.za/wildways-games/content/text/spider%20families/web%20dwellers/orb-web%20spiders/47%20tetrag%20sub%20leucaug%2001.htm
  I found an ATLAS OF THE SPIDERS OF SOUTH AFRICA - 1160 pages! The findings of species are described by location and map, but there are very few photos.
  The family Tetragnathidae starts at p 36 of this part
  http://www.arc.agric.za/arc-ppri/Documents/5.SPIDERATLASFAMILIESSPAZOR.pdf
  The other parts are available here
  http://www.arc.agric.za/arc-ppri/Documents/Forms/AllItems.aspx
  Some more cooperative cousins from India ;)
  http://indiantetragnathidae.blogspot.com/2012/03/indian-tetragnathidae.html
  Another one from Australia
  http://www.arachne.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=963 Posted 11 years ago, modified 11 years ago

Claire Hamilton

Lion

Oh wow, thank you for all your hard work! If I even remotely understood spiders this may be a whole lot easier. I have been all through the links you mentioned but nothing looks quite right. I have bought a book although this only mentions Tetragnatha, Pachygnatha, Leucauge and Meta as being in South Africa. None of these though match this little fellow. My only thoughts are that this is a juvenile something or other and I think it probably best if I send the pics off to a professional for identification and I have a list of contacts in the book I bought. Thank you so much for your efforts...I WILL find out what this is!!! Posted 11 years ago, modified 11 years ago
1. WildFlower
  
  Lion
  
  I tried some of the other genera too, but for many of the species I couldn't find any photos...
  Do you have this contact?
  http://www.djaniwildlife.co.za/wildways-games/content/text/contact%20us/intro%2001.html Posted 11 years ago

Claire Hamilton

Lion

I have now emailed the above as well as other arachnologists at various institutions in South Africa who I found listed in the spider book I have. Now all we can do is wait, and hope!
Thank you Wildflower for all your assistance!
(Unfortunately the contact you gave me above no longer exists either as email or website, shame). Posted 11 years ago, modified 11 years ago

WildFlower

Lion

Here's another one, it is probably more recent.
http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2005/april/buttonspider.htm
http://www.arc.agric.za/arc-ppri/Pages/ARC-PPRI-Homepage.aspx Posted 11 years ago

Claire Hamilton

Lion

Thanks Wildflower, it is definitely not a button spider (too small and without the distinctive red hourglass and I am still alive). ARC is one of the contacts on my list, sorry should have mentioned it. Unfortunately the African Arachnid Database no longer seems to be available but there are a further two email address on there, I shall see if they can tell me where to find it because that would be really useful. Love the spider on their home page 'Shield bum spider' awesome! Posted 11 years ago
1. WildFlower
  
  Lion
  
  Sorry, I didn't mean it was a button spider, but the article is written by Dr Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman, the author of The Spider Guide of Southern Africa. There is an email at the end, hopefully the current one. Posted 11 years ago
2. 1. Claire Hamilton
    
    Lion
    
    Oh, sorry!
    Ah, I see I have already emailed this one too.
    I have also emailed Norman Larson, Associate arachnologist (avellopsis@telkomsa.net) Iziko Museum, Cape Town www.biodiversityexplorer.org.za and
    Leon Lotz of the National Museum (arachnol@nasmus.co.za and
    The Spider Club of South Africa (info@spiders.co.za)
    I am not expecting replies until after the weekend. I shall let you know Posted 11 years ago, modified 11 years ago

Claire Hamilton

Lion

I have received an email from the Spider Club of South Africa and I quote...
'My guess, and it is only a guess, is a juvenile in the family Tetragnathidae and probably a different species of Leucauge. Quite honestly it is impossible to identify juveniles but one of the species in the genus Leucauge, Leucauge thomeensis which DOES occur in your area, is a likely candidate. Theyhave shorter, more boxy-shaped abdomens, shiny black with silvery and orange markings. I am sure you know that your festive silver vlei spider is in the same genus and is called Leucauge festiva. The orb web missing a central hub and slung sort of off-horizontal is a good clue to the genus.
That’s as far as I can get. I don’t think it is a theridiid.'
Followed up with...
'With over 2000 species of spiders in South Africa there is no way that you will find every single one on the internet! Besides when you get to really complicated families such as the Corinnidae there are about 15 – 20 that look so alike that the only way to separate them is by looking at their genitalia or other tiny parts under a microscope and even then, using molecular studies, we are finding that what we think is a single species turns out to be a complex of species or vice versa – some spiders that look different to the naked eye turn out to the a single species. VERY complicated!'

So, we can either go with Leucauge thomeensis or leave it blank and wait for the little fellow to grow up! Posted 11 years ago

Claire Hamilton

Lion

A further reply from Dr Ansie Dippenaar:

'Astri correct with Tetragnathidae. It is a
Leucauge thomeensis Kraus, 1960.
They are recognized by the oval abdomen with silver spots fang without apophysis; male palp very long embolus with tip curved. Ventrum with red spots in live specimens.'
Posted 11 years ago

Claire Hamilton

Lion

With the confirmation of the species from Dr Ansie Dippenaar who is the author of the Field Guide to the Spiders of South Africa, I felt confident enough to create a new species. It is a shame I have not seen it again but as I now know that is is rare, I will be on the lookout! Posted 11 years ago