Broun's Orb-weaver Backobourkia brounii (Urquhart, 1885)

(after Framenau et al. 2010): Male B. brounii differ from the very similar B. heroine in the shape of the conductor of the pedipalp in which the tip forms a much tighter angle; females only have small or no baso-lateral subtriangular flaps at the epigyne in posterior view, whereas these are large in B. heroine. In addition, the central division of the epigyne in posterior view forms a narrow V in B. heroine, whereas this division is much narrower in B. brounii and with a minor central gap.

Syntypes, unknown number of males and females, Whangarei Harbour [35º43’S, 174º19’E, New Zealand], T. Broun; and near Auckland [36º51’S, 174º46’E, New Zealand], A. T. Urquhart (considered lost).

• New South Wales
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

• New Zealand