several of these jumping spiders observed all on large Xanthorrhoea semiplana
Undescribed species, discovered by Richard Bailey
~5mm long
This is a really important record. According to my spider book, this genus wasn't seen from 1909 to 1990!
Very few records of them exist.
Flat Striped Jumping Spider (Zebraplatys sp)
www.ellura.info/Spider/Spider/DSC04125E-Flat-Striped-Jumping-Spider-Zebraplatys.html
Unfortunately, it's the only decent shot I got. It was super sneaky and quick.
Going by the pictures in Whyte & Andersons Field Guide to Spiders of Australia I used to ID these as Sondra aurea ( see pg 304 bottom left pic and description).
However looking at Zabka’s paper, I dont think this is aurea. Going by the description in Zabka’s paper the dorsal pattern, and overall shape do seem to match Sondra aurea, See pics 1, 3 and 7.
But there are some important differences.
This guy is male so I will concentrate on the male description.
The original description states:
“Clypeus dark-brown with single light hairs and brown bristles. Chelicerae brown, “
This guy has dense covering of yellow setae over both clypeus and top half of chelicerae. See pic 2 and 4.
“Chelicerae brown pro-margin with 3, retromargin with 7 teeth”
This guy has 6 teeth, see pic 5
“Pedipalps dark-brown, cymbium distally yellowish.”
No mention of the lighter coloured longish setae. See pic 2
“Palpal organ with pear-shaped bulbus, embolus dagger-like”
Not so sure about shape but certainly no sign of any “dagger-like embolus”
See pic 6
Some of the pics arent that great but after about 100 shots trying to catch him when he stopped moving for short periods, and especially trying to get the underside of the pedipalps when extended, they are probably good enough to highlight the features I talk about.
The paper:
Salticidae (Arachnida: Araneae) from the Oriental, Australian and Pacific Regions, XV. New Species of Astieae from Australia. ZABKA 2002
Moving very much like an ant. Seen on the way to the viewing platforms, mid-afternoon.
Tentative ID: Myrmarachne macleayana (robsoni form)
1 individual
Thanks to Otto bell for finding it
Undescribed species, if it's the same as the one Joseph Schubert @joseph_schubert found last year (and in May this year):
https://twitter.com/arachno_joe/status/1189815392832671744
https://www.facebook.com/josephschubertentomology/posts/689749548540998
Red-faced Jumping Spider (Saitis sp)
Undescribed genus and species
Judalana lutea?