Gold Coast Spiders > Spider Index

The amazing but strange looking Arkys curtulus, gets its common name of Bird Dropping Spider or the Bird Poo Spider, due to the resemblance of a “bird dropping”.

The colours, mottling and patterns vary considerably between individuals and can range from cream, orange, mottled, brown and black. A small spider, it is found in eastern Australia region, often seen to be resting on leaves and waiting for prey to come within reach.

Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones

See our main section on Spiders > Spiders Index | Arkys | Arkys curtulus


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Chelicerata
  • Class: Arachnida
  • Order: Araneae
  • Infraorder: Araneomorphae
  • Family: Arkyidae
  • Genus: Arkys
  • Species: Arkys curtulus
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones
Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider), Gold Coast QLD © Stefan Jones

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs © Stefan Jones
  2. Arkys curtulus (Simon, 1903), Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Arkys curtulus

Gold Coast SpidersSpider Index Arkys alatus (Winged Arkys) Arkys cornutus (Horned Triangular Spider) Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider) Beregama cordata (Fireback Huntsman Spider) Gasteracantha quadrispinosa (Four-spined Spiny Orbweaver) Leucauge dromedaria (Humped Silver Orb Weaver) Mopsus mormon (Green Jumping Spider) Phonognatha graeffei (Leaf-curling Spider) Runcinia acuminata (Pointy Runcinia) Salsa fuliginata (Sooty Orb-weaver)

Gold Coast FaunaGastropods Insects Marsupials Spiders

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