Central Coast SpidersSpider Index Arachnura higginsi (Scorpion-tailed Spider) Arkys alatus (Winged Arkys) Arkys alticephala (High-headed Arkys) Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider) Arkys dilatatus (Dilated Arkys) Arkys transversus Arkys enigma Celaenia Deinopis subrufa (Net-casting Spider) Dolophones turrigera (Turreted Wrap-around Spider) Maratus volans (Peacock Spider) Ordgarius magnificus (Magnificent Spider) Servaea villosa (Shaggy-velvet Servaea) Tetragnatha nitens (Shining Long-jawed Spider) Triangular Spiders
Arkys alticephala is commonly known as the High-headed Arkys, belonging to the group of Orb Weaver Spiders in the genus Arkys (also in the group known as the Triangular Spiders). This strange looking, but beautiful spider, is a medium-sized spider whose camouflagued appearance is perfect, as it is an ambush predator/hunter, that preys on edible arthropods. Like other Arkys in the genus, it has the characteristic knobbly body.
This species is found throughout the east coast and hinterland of mainland Australia, south-coast of Western Australia and Tasmania.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Chelicerata
- Class: Arachnida
- Order: Araneae
- Infraorder: Araneomorphae
- Family: Arkyidae
- Genus: Arkys
- Species: Arkys alticephala
Footnote & References
- Photographs © Michael Doe
- Arkys alticephala (Urquhart, 1891) High-headed Arkys, Arachne.org.au, https://www.arachne.org.au/01_cms/details.asp?ID=2524
- New Archemorus [Arkys] species Balogh 1978 – Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientarium Hungarieae 24, 1978
- Arkys alticephala (Urquhart, 1891), Orb-Weaver Spider, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https:/biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/85897b6a-b618-4a64-b0b5-46b97bcc72d2
Central Coast SpidersSpider Index Arachnura higginsi (Scorpion-tailed Spider) Arkys alatus (Winged Arkys) Arkys alticephala (High-headed Arkys) Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider) Arkys dilatatus (Dilated Arkys) Arkys transversus Arkys enigma Celaenia Deinopis subrufa (Net-casting Spider) Dolophones turrigera (Turreted Wrap-around Spider) Maratus volans (Peacock Spider) Ordgarius magnificus (Magnificent Spider) Servaea villosa (Shaggy-velvet Servaea) Tetragnatha nitens (Shining Long-jawed Spider) Triangular Spiders
New South WalesBarunguba Montague Island Bourke Blue Mountains Bundeena Central Coast Kosciuszko National Park Mount Kaputar National Park Lower North Shore Northern Beaches Sapphire Coast Snowy Mountains Region South Coast Stony Range Regional Botanic Garden Sydney