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. In 2015 a sighting from China was reported.[3] It has bold black blobs on its rear, perhaps mimicking eyes. In 2014 Carly Brooke Martinetti gave it the common name "Alien Butt Spider"[4] by which it became internationally known.[5][6][7][8] Due to its memorable common name and strange appearance photographs of the spider have appeared in many online blogs and galleries.[9][10][11][12][13]

Araneus praesignis
Scientific classification
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.[5] 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.[5] 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
  1. Bern, Natural History Museum. "NMBE - World Spider Catalog". wsc.nmbe.ch. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  2. Australia, Atlas of Living. "Araneus praesignis | Atlas of Living Australia". bie.ala.org.au. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  3. Bryan, Chloe. "Otherworldly 'Alien Butt Spider' photographed in China". Mashable. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  4. "Alien Butt Spider Conquers Earth, Lives in Silk Leaf Huts". Featured Creature. 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2018-06-30.
  5. 1955-, Whyte, Robert (2017). A field guide to spiders of Australia. Anderson, Greg, 1958 September 27-. Clayton South, VIC. ISBN 9780643107076. OCLC 971943480.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. Atkinson, Ron. "The Find-a-spider Guide - Araneus praesignis". www.findaspider.org.au. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  7. "Araneus praesignis (L. Koch, 1872) Alien Butt Spider". www.arachne.org.au. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  8. "Alien Butt Spider Araneus praesignis a perennial favourite". Flickr. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  9. 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.
  10. "Creepy 'alien butt spider' looks like something from another planet - Storytrender". Storytrender. 2017-05-11. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  11. "TIL the Alien Butt Spider has a butt that looks like an alien". Imgur. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  12. "Spiders". Pinterest. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  13. "microcosmos". Pinterest. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
  14. "How you can cure your spider phobia". NewsComAu. Retrieved 2018-07-01.
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