Sandy Isala Isala arenata (Machado, 2019)
Fauna Portal species: 351
Isala arenata male, dorsal (HBI N32212-1; Barrow Island, Western Australia)
Image: V.W. Framenau (2024)
Fauna Portal Image No. 9073Diagnosis
(after Machado 2019): Females of I. arenata and I. cambridgei have a predominantly orange body colouration and the external shape of their epigynum is similar, with the copulatory opening hidden by the lateral folds of the plate. Still, females of I. arenata can be distinguished from I. cambridgei by their complete atrium delimited anteriorly by the folds of the epigynal plate, and copulatory ducts sclerotized and not coiled. Males are similar to those of I. cambridgei due to their striped legs, single and curved retrolateral tibial apophysis and the tibiae and metatarsi I bearing long and thin barbs; male pedipalps can be also distinguished by the bent/tilted cymbium and shorter embolus. Moreover, as this species occurs in desert areas, it can be undoubtedly recognized due to the grains of sand, rock fragments and other soil particles attached to their bodies.
Status
- native
Linnean Holotype
Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- Western Australia
Fauna Portal Records
The map shows all records that have been verified as part of the Fauna Portal project and may not represent the true distribution of a species. Specifically, for described species, check the link to the Atlas of Living Australia on this page for potential wider distributions. Fauna Portal Reference specimens and Linnean types are shown in red. If you identified a specimen that exceeds the distribution of an undescribed species as illustrated here, please contact the Fauna Portal team who can assist with the lodgement of the specimen in a public institution and display on the map.
Similar Species
Publications
(2019): On the Australian bark crab spider genus Stephanopis: taxonomic review and description of seven new species (Araneae: Thomisidae: Stephanopinae). Records of the Australian Museum. 71: 217 - 276