Central Coast SpidersSpider Index Arachnura higginsi (Scorpion-tailed Spider) Arkys Index 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

The genus Celaenia are a group of South Pacific orb-weaver spiders that was first described by Tamerlan Thorell in 1868.

The genus have amazing camouflage mimicry, that allows them to look like bird dropping, hence their common name Bird-dropping Spider. This not only hides them from prey, but allows them to get close enough to capture prey.

Celaenia sp, Patonga NSW © Michael Doe
Celaenia sp, Patonga NSW © Michael Doe
Celaenia sp, Patonga NSW © Michael Doe
Celaenia sp, Patonga NSW © Michael Doe
Celaenia sp, Narara NSW © Michael Doe
Celaenia sp, Patonga NSW © Michael Doe
Celaenia sp, Narara NSW © Michael Doe
Celaenia sp, Narara NSW © Michael Doe
Celaenia sp, Narara NSW © Michael Doe
Celaenia sp, Narara NSW © Michael Doe
Celaenia sp, Narara NSW © Michael Doe
Atkinson's Bird-dropping Spider (Celaenia atkinsoni), Woy Woy Bay NSW © Michael Doe
Atkinson’s Bird-dropping Spider (Celaenia atkinsoni), Woy Woy Bay NSW © Michael Doe
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Chelicerata
  • Class: Arachnida
  • Order: Araneae
  • Infraorder: Araneomorphae
  • Family: Araneidae
  • Genus: Celaenia
  • Species:
    • Celaenia atkinsoni (O.P.-Cambridge, 1879)
    • Celaenia calotoides Rainbow, 1908
    • Celaenia distincta (O.P.-Cambridge, 1869)
    • Celaenia dubia (O.P.-Cambridge, 1869)
    • Celaenia excavata (L. Koch, 1867)
    • Celaenia hectori ( O. Pickard-Cambridge , 1879)
    • Celaenia olivacea ( Urquhart , 1885)
    • Celaenia penna ( Urquhart , 1887)
    • Celaenia tuberosa ( Urquhart , 1889)
    • Celaenia tumidosa Urquhart, 1891
    • Celaenia voraginosa Urquhart, 1891

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs © Michael Doe
  2. Celaenia Thorell, 1868, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/a977f930-344d-4c92-be16-30d0db250f97

Central Coast SpidersSpider Index Arachnura higginsi (Scorpion-tailed Spider) Arkys Index 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

Central CoastFauna Spiders

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