Thalassius albocinctus

Taxobox
name = Fishing spider


image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Thalassius albocinctus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Arachnida
ordo = Araneae
superfamilia = Lycosoidea
familia = Pisauridae
genus = "Thalassius"
species = "T. albocinctus"
binomial = "Thalassius albocinctus"
binomial_authority = (Doleschall, 1859)

"Thalassius albocinctus", commonly called the fishing spider, is a species of spider found in tropical Asia from India [Sunil "et al." 2003] to the Philippines. It is named after its habit of catching small fish. The spider is striking in appearance and can be easily recognised by the presence of a black, glossy, broad median band bordered by a white lateral band on the cephalothorax and abdomen. The legs are long and yellowish brown. It is usually found near water.

Female Pisaurids create their egg case in one piece and carry it under their body with their chelicerae. This differs from similar looking female Lycosids which construct their egg case in two pieces and fasten it behind them with their spinnerets. [Sherriffs 1938]

Footnotes

References

* SHERRIFFS, W. RAE, (1938) HONG KONG SPIDERS. PART IV The Hong Kong Naturalist [http://sunzi1.lib.hku.hk/hkjo/view/27/2700428.pdf Hong Kong Spiders]
* Sunil Jose K., Sebastian , Samson Davis A. and P. Verghese (2003). First record of "Thalassius albocinctus" (Doleschall) (Araneae : Pisauridae) from India. "Entomon" 28(4): 309-314.
* (2008): [http://research.amnh.org/entomology/spiders/catalog/index.html The world spider catalog] , version 8.5. "American Museum of Natural History".

External links

* [http://www.southindianspiders.com South Indian Spiders]