Desert Orb-weaver Backobourkia collina (Keyserling, 1886)
Fauna Portal species: 158
Backobourkia collina female, dorsal (WAM T75743)
Image: V.W. Framenau (2009)
Fauna Portal Image No. 659Diagnosis
(after Framenau et al. 2010): Backobourkia collina is the most distinctive of all species in the genus. Males are easily diagnosed by their tiny size (TL < 3 mm) in comparison to B. brounii (TL > 5 mm) and B. heroine (TL > 6 mm) resulting in considerable size dimorphism between males and females. On average, B. collina females are also considerably smaller than those of B. brounii, however, sizes overlap for large B. collina and small B. brounii specimens. Female genitalia differ considerably in particular in posterior view, where B. heroine and B brounii have a somewhat V-shaped central division, which is Y-shaped in B. collina. There is no trace of baso-lateral flaps in B. collina. In addition, the scape of B. collina is significantly shorter (< 1 mm) than that of both B. heroine and B. brounii (> 1 mm).
Abdomen colouration is not diagnostic and many specimens illustrated with a dark abdominal patch on iNaturalist or ALA are not B. collina.
Linnean Syntype(s)
Australia
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- 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
(2010): Systematics of the new orb-weaving spider genus Backobourkia (Araneae: Araneidae: Araneinae). Arthropod Systematics and Phylogeny. 68: 79 - 111