Araneus illaudatus

Taxobox
name = "Araneus illaudatus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Arachnida
ordo = Araneae
subordo = Araneomorphae
familia = Araneidae
genus = "Araneus"
species = "A. illaudatus"
binomial = "Araneus illaudatus"
binomial_authority = Gertsch & Mulaik, 1936

"Araneus illaudatus", commonly called the Texas orb-weaver is a species of spider belonging to the family Araneidae. It has a rather restricted range in western Texas and eastern Arizona.

The female is a very large, hairy orb-weaver, up to 25 mm in length (excluding legs). The overall colour is a dirty white, sometimes with a pinkish tinge. A distinctive feature is the presence of two roughly triangular dark patches at the front of the abdomen, each with a small white spot within. The male is very much smaller, only reaching 9 mm in length.

References