Poltys illepidus, C. L. Koch, 1843

Smith, H. M., 2006, A Revision of the Genus Poltys in Australasia (Araneae: Araneidae), Records of the Australian Museum 58, pp. 43-96 : 55

The Poltys illepidus species group

This group contains the “typical” species that are most commonly associated with the name Poltys . In Australasia at least two identifiable named species are found: P. illepidus and P. stygius Thorell. Both occur from Australia to the Asian mainland and a third, which may belong to this group, P. pannuceus Thorell , is recorded from Sumatra to Burma (see Appendix 1). Other species that are unmistakably of this group are found from Africa to Japan and the Caroline Islands (females in BPBM). Female characters that unite the group include a relatively broad abdomen, a low broadly domed carapace with medium to short eye tubercle, long quite slender legs (with less broadening of the femora than is seen in P. columnaris -group, for instance), and the epigyne well developed into a broad fan-shaped plate. In the two Australian species, the posterior lateral epigynal plates are relatively flat and there are no obvious copulatory ducts leading off the foveae. The internal epigynal structure of P. pannuceus has not been investigated but externally it appears intermediate between these species and the P. columnaris - group ( Fig. 247). Males are less easily differentiated from those of some other groups, but the eye tubercle is broad and poorly defined and the palpal organ has a long thick embolus, originating dorsally, and a well-developed TA. A male of unknown species, but apparently belonging to the P. illepidus -group, has been examined from Genting, Malaysia (JAM 19143).

The two Australian species are of similar appearance and can be difficult to separate, even using genitalia, without side-by-side comparison. They are, however, well separated genetically (in the COI gene) and the egg sacs are different in colour.