Two-spined Spider
Scientific name: Poecilopachys australasia
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Image: Ian McMaster
creative commons
creative commons
Fast Facts
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Classification
- Genus
- Poecilopachys
- Species
- australasia
- Family
- Araneidae
- Order
- Araneae
- Class
- Arachnida
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
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- Size Range
- 7 mm
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- Habitats
- open woodland
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- Life history mode
- aerial
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- Feeding Habits
- arthropod-feeder, carnivorous, predator
Introduction
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.
Habitat
Forests and woodlands, heath.
Distribution
Coastal New South Wales and Queensland.
Distribution data sourced from the Atlas of Living Australia
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.
