Author Koh Lin

Sometimes a photograph can be definitive… especially when Google say this is Nyssus coloripes (Spotted Ground Swift Spider)… but the photo only shows white spots…

Nyssus coloripes (Orange-legged Swift Spider), Alice Springs NT
Nyssus coloripes (Orange-legged Swift Spider), Alice Springs NT

And then you see the same but different spider (on the same day)…

Nyssus coloripes (Orange-legged Swift Spider), Alice Springs NT
Nyssus coloripes (Orange-legged Swift Spider), Alice Springs NT

Different enough superficially to make you think…

Nyssus coloripes (Orange-legged Swift Spider), Alice Springs NT
Nyssus coloripes (Orange-legged Swift Spider), Alice Springs NT

Nature is amazing…

Nyssus coloripes (Spotted Ground Swift Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Nyssus coloripes (Spotted Ground Swift Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones

Nyssus coloripes is a touch variable in colouration… Yellow or gold spots are within the realms of possibility and you could easily describe those spots as “old gold” rather than red. The shape of the markings is correct so I think you have actually photographed one of the colour variants of Nyssus coloripes.

Source: Kim Lesley Angus


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Footnote & References

  1. Many thanks to Kim Lesley Angus for ID, member of Entomology Australia “Invertebratology” Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/groups/507004496955277/
  2. Many thanks to Iskander Kaliananda for title of blog, member of Entomology Australia “Invertebratology” Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/groups/507004496955277/
  3. Nyssus coloripes (Spotted Ground Swift Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones