Family NICODAMIDAE Simon, 1898

Nicodamid from Wellington, South Australia

© Copyright Curtis Morton

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Introduction

The widespread and handsomely bedecked spiders of this family occur under bark and stones in rainforest and open forest. With their abdomens of half red and half black, they may have been superficially confused with Redback spiders (Latrodectus hasseltii) and indeed the nicodamids where once believed to be in the same family as Redbacks.

Diagnosis

The Nicodamidae can be distinguished from most other spiders by the presence of a dorsal retrolateral tibial apophysis. The Nicodaminae all have a bright red cephalothorax and at least some red colouration on the legs. Most have a black or blue-black abdomen, but some species have a bicoloured abdomen which is red anteriorly and black posteriorly.

History of changes