Thelacantha brevispina ( Doleschall, 1857 )

Tan, Ji, Chan, Zi Yang, Ong, Ching Ang & Yong, Hoi Sen, 2019, Phylogenetic relationships of Actinacantha Simon, Gasteracantha Sundevall, Macracantha Hasselt and Thelacantha Simon spiny orbweavers (Araneae: Araneidae) in Peninsular Malaysia, Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 67, pp. 32-55 : 47

Thelacantha brevispina ( Doleschall, 1857)

( Figs. 1H , 12 A−E)

Plectana brevispina Doleschall, 1857: 423

Gasteracantha brevispina Workman & Workman, 1892: 8 , pl. 8

Thelacantha brevispina Benoit, 1964

Gasteracantha mammosa Barrion & Litsinger, 1995: 554 , figs. 341a−e

Thelacantha brevispina Yin et al., 2012: 584 , figs. 281a−i

Material examined. MALAYSIA. 2 females (reg. UIR010214- TBRE1 &2), Penang Hill, Penang Island, coll. Tan J, 1 Feb.2014 ; 1 female (reg. UIR090614- TBRE3 ), Gunung Jerai, Kedah, coll. Tan J and Chan ZY , 9 June.2014.

Diagnosis. Female individuals of T. brevispina are identified based on the two large longitudinally ovoid depressions on the abdomen as well as posterior spines that occur on swollen tubercles.

Natural history. In Peninsular Malaysia, female individuals appear to be abundant in the highlands close to human settlements. Sub-females may display lighter and vibrant abdominal coloration. Males not observed.

Distribution. Madagascar, India, Southeast Asia, Australia and French Polynesia.

Figures

Fig. 1. General habitus. A, Actinacantha globulata (Walckenaer, 1841), sub-female; B, Gasteracantha diardi (Lucas, 1835), female; C, G. diardi yellow morph, female; D, G. diardi white morph, sub-female; E, G. kuhli, female; F, Gasteracantha hasselti C. L. Koch, 1837, female; G, Macracantha arcuata (Fabricius, 1793), female; H, Thelacantha brevispina (Doleschall, 1857), female; I, G. mengei Keyserling, 1864, female. Photos by Tan Ji.

Fig. 12. Epigynal structure of Thelacantha brevispina (Doleschall, 1857). A, Ventral view; B, Posterior view; C, Lateral view; D, Dorsal view; E, Anterior view. Scale = 100 µm. CO = Copulatory opening; FD = Fertilisation duct; S = Spermatheca.