Tetragnatha nitens (Shining Long-jawed Spider)

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

Tetragnatha nitens is a member of a group known as Long-jawed Spiders (also known as Four-jawed Spiders) that have enlarged jaws (chelicerae and fangs). The Tetragnatha nitens common names include Shining Long-jawed Spider and Brown Long-jawed Spider.

First described as Eugnatha nitens in 1826 by Jean Victor Audouin, it was transferred to the genus, Tetragnatha, in 1841 by Charles Athanase Walckenaer. The specific epithet, nitens, describes the spider as “shining” (brillante).

They build horizontal or inclined orb webs about 20cm in diameter and are usually in their webs at night and hiding during the day. Often found near water.

Shining Long-jawed Spider (Tetragnatha nitens), Woy Woy Bay NSW © Michael Doe — Shining Long-jawed Spider (*Tetragnatha nitens*), Woy Woy Bay NSW © Michael Doe

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Tetragnathidae
Genus: Tetragnatha
Species: Tetragnatha nitens

Footnote & References

Tetragnatha nitens (Audouin, 1826), Brown Long-Jawed Spider, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/19ea399a-f431-4351-888b-c2489febcddd

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