Arkys alatus (Winged Arkys)

Central Coast Arkys IndexArkys alatus (Winged Arkys) Arkys alticephala (High-headed Arkys) Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider) Arkys dilatatus (Dilated Arkys) Arkys enigma Arkys furcatus Arkys lancearius (Triangular Spider) Arkys transversus Arkys speechleyi

A striking looking spider, Arkys alatus is commonly known as the Winged Arkys. Belonging to the genus Arkys, that include the common name grouping of triangular spider or ambush spiders. The word alataus is said to mean having wings or winged.

As with many of the ambush hunters, Arkys alatus hide on foliage, waiting for prey to come within range, before pouncing on them. Its prey being mostly insects.

They are a striking looking spider specie, with a flattish appearance, ornate patterns and knobs, in a striking colour palette of white, cream, dark-greys and browns. The cephalothorax (the fused head and thorax of a spider) is just slightly longer than wide. The lateral eyes of the Arkys alatus are on a projecting knob.

One of the identifying features of Arkys alatus is the front half of the abdomen which is wide, quickly narrowing about half way back, like a parallel sided tail with projecting horns or hardened tubercles. The abdomen has the appearance of a pair of outstretched wings with two small pairs of horns on the extremities and another two pairs on the trailing edge.

Following is a female (left) and male (right), photographed in Woy Woy Bay in New South Wales.

They are found in a variety of habitats along the east coast, stretching from central Queensland, through New South Wales to Victoria. There has been some observations of the species in Far North Queensland.