Large Abdomen Tan Spider - Araneus gemmoides

Moved

… Lynette Elliott, 11 November, 2009 - 11:56am

From Rod Crawford:

I can just see enough of the epigynum in the ventral view to say it's
probably gemmoides. If the photographer has a big version he can crop
to the epigynal area, that would probably confirm it. The dorsal
abdomen looks a bit atypical, humps don't protrude as much to the
sides as typical. There are several other humped species.

… Lynette Elliott, 22 October, 2009 - 9:23pm

> There are several other hum

> There are several other humped species.

Something we shouldn't forget. And Araneus coloration is notoriously variable.

-K

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 23 October, 2009 - 1:02am

Duly noted. Part of me wishe

Duly noted. Part of me wishes that they all looked exactly like the rest of their species...but then where would all the fun of IDing go? :)

… Mandy Howe, 23 October, 2009 - 1:20am

Cat-Faced Spider

My guess would be Araneus gemmoides, the Cat-Faced Spider. The guide page for info is here. The cephalothorax looks strange in this photo, almost like half of it is 'missing'. Is that just my bad eyes?

… Mandy Howe, 22 October, 2009 - 12:44am

I agree

tentatively. I keep wanting some of these to be gemma. We don't have any gemma epigyne shots either. @Mandy- I think this spider is just very 'plump'.

… Lynette Elliott, 22 October, 2009 - 9:29am

Well, if we could see a somew

Well, if we could see a somewhat closer view of the scape. Didn't Rod write that "in gemmoides the scape tends to be triangular while in gemma it has a parallel-sided portion"? Here, it looks more parallel to me, but I can't say that I know the specific structure well enough to trust my eyes.

-K

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 22 October, 2009 - 2:43pm

triangular vs. parallel-sided portion

I can't really see it? But like I said, I've never seen a gemma scape. Here is the comment we are referring to for those who haven't seen it.

… Lynette Elliott, 22 October, 2009 - 2:55pm

Thank you Lynette

for posting that link to the comment. I always completely forget about gemmas. But now I know about the scape and that information will stick with me for future use. Also, I can't really see the scape in this one either.

… Mandy Howe, 22 October, 2009 - 9:33pm