Animal Species:Two-spined Spider

The Two-spined or Enamelled Spider is one of the most curious and beautiful of all spiders.

Identification

The Two-spined Spider has a rounded abdomen that is brightly coloured in red, yellow, green and black with two large white spines.

Size range

7 mm

Distribution

Coastal New South Wales and Queensland.

Habitat

Forests and woodlands, heath.

Habitat type

Vegetation Habitat: open woodland

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Feeding Habits

arthropod-feeder, carnivorous, predator

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Other behaviours and adaptations

Despite their conspicuous colours, they are seldom seen as they usually hide under leaves during the day. At night they emerge and spin a horizontal orb web to catch night-flying insects such as moths. In the morning they eat their web completely and settle down to hide for the day. The Two-spined Spider is one of the few spiders that can change colour quickly, perhaps to confuse potential predators.

Life history mode

aerial

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Classification

Species:
australasia
Genus:
Poecilopachys
Family:
Araneidae
Order:
Araneae
Class:
Arachnida
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Kingdom:
Animalia

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Tags spiders, araneae, arachnida, invertebrates, classification, identification,