Two-tailed spider (Tamopsis sp.)

A tiny, very well camouflaged, extremely fast spider with a pair of huge spinnerets resembling a double tail. The abdomen was interesting however looking like a piece of greensih-white opal in a gold setting.
Exploring the stone walls under strong night lights at the local school.
Incredibly alert and quick to hide. This group are still being sorted out in Australia and species might not yet be clear. It's interesting to note that not many of this genus are within Victoria or Tasmania
They are also mostly responsible for those egg sacs like perfect spheres on strings often found in eucalyptus tree bark.
Approximately 16mm overall (including legs).

comments (10)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Fantastic! It appears to me that with your attention to detail, you have good odds of actually discovering new/undocumented species? Any thoughts on that? Do you ever collaborate with scientists on your findings? Posted 9 years ago
1. Mark Ridgway
  
  Lion
  
  Hmm.. new species named! Wouldn't that be something. It's certainly a real possibility in this country as so much has yet to be done. Estimates are like 90% unnamed for moths and macro-fungi One thing not in our favour though is we don't like taking specimens unnecessarily. We certainly have a lot of contact with state and national museum, CSIRO professionals and other amateur nuts like ourselves. All incredibly helpful. And there's all the online forums for years I suppose. I probably should have done biology instead of physics way back then. :) Posted 9 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    For what it's worth, you come across as a biologist to me :) Posted 9 years ago

Vodkaman

Lion

Because Hersilia exists in Madagascar, which was joined to SA and southern Australia 150Ma ago. It is feasible that Hersilia could have been carried directly on the Australian plate.

Hersilia is not known in the south of Australia, so it could well be a separate species, totally separate from those found in the north, which migrated through India and Indonesia.

The bright light has spoiled the image. You need to get out and find some more.

http://www.european-arachnology.org/wdp/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/061-065_Baehr.pdf

Dave
Posted 9 years ago
1. Mark Ridgway
  
  Lion
  
  Love your thinking Dave. I'm always wondering how it fits over the larger span of time.
  Hersiliidae>Tamopsis is certainly recorded all over Aust. (not Tasmania) with about 50 species
  http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:1e77b63c-414a-4240-a60c-f4f036f17716#
  Sorry about the bright light.. don't have many options in that regard.
  Posted 9 years ago

Vodkaman

Lion

Another possibility, is that your spider has recently molted. This combined with the bright sunlight, could have caused the iridescence and color distortion.

I too was looking at tamopsis, but this is not typical, so I don't think it should represent the species.

Dave Posted 9 years ago
1. Mark Ridgway
  
  Lion
  
  Flash at night not sun.. and that little cam has very poor colour translation.
  Posted 9 years ago
2. 1. Vodkaman
    
    Lion
    
    I can't believe that a mega bug star like yourself, has not got into photography. Nothing wrong with your images, just sayin' :)
    
    Dave Posted 9 years ago
  2. 1. Mark Ridgway
      
      Lion
      
      We only started studying our wildlife to exercise our brains and legs between regular trips to hospital... and got obsessed. If or when our gear ever limits the learning we might reconsider but dollars are also an issue. Hey I really appreciate the compliment anyway.. thanks. :) Posted 9 years ago
    2. 1. Vodkaman
        
        Lion
        
        Not even close to being limited. I too was struck down by the obsession, although the interest has been lurking all my life.
        
        Dave Posted 9 years ago

No species identified

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By Mark Ridgway

Uploaded Mar 25, 2016. Captured Oct 5, 2013 05:33 in 2 Talaskia Rd, Upper Ferntree Gully VIC 3156, Australia.

Explore Australia 13,261 4,209 3

EX-Z2000
f/3.4
1/50s
ISO100
8.46mm