Broun's Orb-weaver Backobourkia brounii (Urquhart, 1885)
Fauna Portal species: 6399
Backobourkia brounii male, dorsal (WAM T73531)
Image: V.W. Framenau (2007)
Fauna Portal Image No. 2417Diagnosis
(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.
Linnean Type
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).
Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
Neighbouring Countries
- New Zealand
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
(2010): Systematics of the new orb-weaving spider genus Backobourkia (Araneae: Araneidae: Araneinae). Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny. 68: 79 - 111