Hersiliidae SUKAU

Female
18mm with tails. Net body length is 9mm

10-9-2010 Sukau

Hersilia KNP

Female

16-12-2009 Kinabalu National Park

Hersilia GERGASSI

Female 10mm with Tails. 5mm Net Body length

31-8-2009 GERGASSI

Hersilia GEMOK

Female 7mm with Tails. 4.5 mm Net Body length

9-8-2009 BUKIT GEMOK

Spinnerets

The inner edge of these spinnerets is lined with silk-producing tubules (spine-like spigots) as opposed to the distally placed spigots of most spiders.

The rupicolus genera have shorter spinnerets that are often not seen as they are curled up against the abdomen and the legs are shorter.

Eyes of a Hersiliidae Spider

The carapace is oval with the 8 eyes situated in two recurved rows, on a raised hump or tubercle. The anterior median eyes are largest.

This female Hersiliidae SUKAU spider is 18mm in body length including the the length of the 2 spinnerets.

Just the length of spinnerets is 9mm.

Net body length is also 9mm.

This is the largest Hersiliidae spider measured in Borneo Island.

Hersiliidae spiders have distinctive elongate lateral spinnerets used in prey capture by swaying them over the victim thus wrapping the victim in silk.

Seven genera in Borneo Island.

Hersilia is usually found in trees.

The Hersiliidae is a family of spiders noted for their elongated posterior lateral spinnerets which can be as long as the abdomen in long-spinnered bark spiders and less in rock living species.

Hersiliids are small to medium (4.5-12.5mm body length) dorso-ventrally flattened spiders, especially the arboreal genera.

They are cryptically coloured in variegated shades of cream, orange, green, brown, grey and black, features they share with the family Selenopidae.

They are quick and difficult to capture as they disappear into the narrowest of crevices.

The oval abdomen is wider posteriorly with the posterior lateral spinnerets extending out parallel to each other.