Arlene's Grass Orb-weaver Plebs arleneae Joseph & Framenau, 2012
Fauna Portal species: 6724
Plebs arleneae male, dorsal (ZMUC 12190; Atherton Plateau, Rose Gums Wilderness Retreat, 12.4 km ENE of Malanda, Queenland)
Image: V.W. Framenau (2008)
Fauna Portal Image No. 3339Diagnosis
(after Joseph & Framenau 2012): Plebs arleneae can be easily distinguished from other members of the genus by the shape of the median apophysis, which is distally widened and protrudes significantly beyond the tegulum. It bears three tips in a three-dimensional pattern in contrast to the typical two-tipped median apophysis of all other Australian Plebs (with the exception of P. patricius). Unique within Plebs, a group of long, strong setae arises from the tip of the cymbium in P. arleneae. Males lack the coxal setae that are found in most other members of the genus (except P. patricius). The epigynal scape of females of P. arleneae is the shortest in comparison to all other Plebs; however, it is almost always broken off (as in P. patricius).
Status
- native
Linnean Holotype
Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
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.
Publications
(2012): Systematic review of a new orb-weaving spider genus (Araneae: Araneidae), with special reference to the Australasian-Pacific and South-East Asian fauna. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 166: 279 - 341