Hamilton's Orb Weaver

Naming

NOTE: The correct name for this species is uncertain. In 2019 Volker Framenau in Evolutionary Systematics 3 1-27 stated that the holotype for this species must be considered lost but specimens/images labelled as Araneus hamiltoni seem to have abdominal markings and a general appearance very similar to those of Araneus brisbanae. To add further confusion some authors have noted that some images labelled as Cyclosa fuliginata also have these same markings and it is therefore possible that what is presently listed as Cyclosa fuliginata is really a species complex that includes the previously described Araneus hamiltoni and Araneus brisbanae.

Distribution

This spider, whatever its correct scientific name may be, may be found around South Queensland and certainly is in parts of NSW, Victoria and Tasmania.

Habitat

This species usually builds an orb web in low vegetation but is possibly more likely to be found in this web at night than during the daylight hours.