Nicodamus peregrinus, known as the red and black spider, is a spider found in eastern and southern Australia.[1] Unlike the redback spider (Latrodectus hasseltii), the bright red colouration does not appear to warn of significant danger to humans. Food is a variety of small insects. They have been recorded in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.

Red and black Spider
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Nicodamidae
Genus: Nicodamus
Species:
N. peregrinus
Binomial name
Nicodamus peregrinus
Synonyms
  • Theridion peregrinum Walckenaer
  • Centropelma bicolor L. Koch
  • Centropelma peregrina Keyserling
  • Nicodamus bicolor Hickman
  • Ozaleus tarandus Thorell
  • Theridium semiflavum L.Koch

Description and egg sac

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Usually found under bark, fallen trees or stones close to the ground. Legs are red and black. The cephalothorax is red, the abdomen is black or sometimes a dark blue. Palps are red and black. Body length of males is 8 to 10 mm, females 12 to 14 mm. The egg sac is 10 to 20 mm in diameter and contains from 30 to 50 cream eggs, 1 mm in diameter. The sac is plano-convex in shape, consisting of white fluffy silk, placed in a sheltered area such as under bark.[2] Near continual courtship and mating have been observed when in captivity, resulting in the exhaustive death of the males.[3] These spiders tend to wave their forelegs in the air while walking, and the males tap the ground with their palps.

Naming & taxonomy

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This spider belongs to the family Nicodamidae. However, it has also been placed in the families Theridiidae, Agelenidae and Zodariidae.[2] It was originally named by the French arachnologist Charles Walckenaer as Theridion peregrinum in 1841. However, there have been several name changes and synonymisations. The most recent being in 1995, after a revision of the family Nicodamidae, when the name Centropelma bicolorwas synonymised with Nicodamus peregrinus.[1] Walckenaer's original specific epithet peregrinum refers to the wandering nature of the spider.

References

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  1. ^ a b Robert Whyte & Greg Anderson. "Nicodamus spp. Red-black Spiders". Arachne.org.au. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Mascord, Ramon (1970). Australian Spiders in Colour. Artarmon NSW, Australia: A.H. & A.W. Reid SBN 589 07065 7. p. 66.
  3. ^ McKeown, Keith C. (1952). Australian Spiders. Australian Museum: Sirius Books. pp. 248–249.