Maratus scutulatus

2 A jumping spider at Dunlop, ACT

Request use of media

Identification history

Maratus scutulatus	19 Sep 2019	MichaelMulvaney
Maratus scutulatus	4 Dec 2018	MichaelMulvaney
Maratus scutulatus	3 Dec 2018	YumiCallaway
Hypoblemum sp. (genus)	3 Dec 2018	YumiCallaway
Unidentified	2 Dec 2018	CathB

Identify this sighting

Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

User's notes

Very small. Didn't seem afraid of the camera, and seemed quite inquisitive.

6 comments

YumiCallaway wrote:

3 Dec 2018

Nice find! Referring to 'A Field Guide to Spiders of Australia', I've compared this to all Salticidae spiders in the book. The top two images on page 250 described as Hypoblemum albovittatum (unofficial) White Garland House Hopper have the same features as the one you found. Partial white on the pedipalp with the rest black, orange frame around eyes, similar reflective cold colours on back and top of head, almost a full circle of white around the top of the head, but a section cut off at the back, white-yellow tufts along segments of the legs and proportions of reflective black. I've compared to similar ones it may have been, but this one aligns best and it's most likely matured so won't develop any further.

CathB wrote:

4 Dec 2018

Thanks Yumi. That seems to be a pretty good fit, although none of the pictures I found online seem to have that shiny abdomen - they are all quite hairy.

YumiCallaway wrote:

4 Dec 2018

This link has some photos to similar individuals:
http://www.arachne.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=1676

I tried searching online too - many of the images from a google search come up with Hypoblemum villosum (Shaggy, Red-Headed House Spider p.251 top images from the field guide) or individuals from New Zealand which are presently classified as Hypoblemum albovittatum, but appear to be more similar to the Red-Headed House Spider which has 'a much shaggier abdomen and orange (to bright red) hair on the front of the carapace'. At the end of the paragraph under Hypoblemum albovittatum, it says 'it is very likely there is a cluster of perhaps a dozen species around the Hypoblemum albovittatum and Hypoblemum villosum group.' implying the spiders identified as Hypoblemum albovittatum could be varying between it and the Red-Headed House Spider's appearance because there are more closely related species/sub-species which haven't been identified and recognised yet. The images on the field guide is said to conform more closely to the original descriptions and drawings with another feature being 'does not have greatly enlarged third legs' which your spider fits into. Comparing images of the two species will probably be easier for you than figuring out all this writing though :D

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

5 Dec 2018

Yumi I asked Stuart Harris about your suggestion who said "Yumi is spot on here describing the male H. albovittatum". Would be great if you could continue your interest in jumping spiders - though it is a very difficult group due to lack of taxonomic study and references. You may also like to consider having a focus of centipedes as there is a national key to Australian genus

http://www.ento.csiro.au/biology/centipedes/centipedeKey.html

Most of the CNM centipede IDs have been made by me and they need a review.

Thanks Michael Mulvaney

YumiCallaway wrote:

7 Dec 2018

Glad to hear the ID fit! I'd be happy to help with ID of jumping spiders and other spiders too. Sounds good - I'll have a look through centipede sightings for practice and start giving it a go for unidentified sightings.

Thank you for the support and opportunity!

YumiCallaway wrote:

20 Sep 2019

https://peckhamia.com/peckhamia/PECKHAMIA_180.1.pdf
ID has now been revised (Feb 2019) and this individual is now Hypoblemum scutulatum.

Please Login or Register to comment.