Introduction

The 'ray' spiders are tiny to small, 3-clawed spiders. They build small orb-webs made with few radials and spirals. From the centre of the orb a horizontal thread runs to a point of attachment. The spiders rest, back to the web, on this; as it shortens this thread, the web is pulled into a cone shape and when prey touches the web the thread is released and the web springs forwards and straightens with the spider in its centre.

Diagnosis

Theridiosomatids can be distinguished by the pair of ovoid depressions on the anterior margin of the sternum. They have a spherical abdomen. Anterior sternal indentations on either side of labium. Sternum broadly truncate posteriorly. Female palp without a claw.

History of changes

• Baalzebub Coddington, J.A. 1986. The genera of the spider family Theridiosomatidae. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology No. 422: 1-96 [71].

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA

Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), NSW North Coast (NNC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

History of changes

• Theridiosoma brauni Wunderlich, J. 1976. Spinnen aus Australien 1. Uloboridae, Theridiosomatidae und Symphytognathidae. Senckenbergiana Biologica 57: 113-124 [117].

  Type data:

   Holotype SMF 29058 ♂ adult, Lamington National Park, QLD.
  Paratype(s) SMF 29059 ♂ ♀adult.

Distribution

States

Queensland

IBRA

Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), NSW North Coast (NNC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • Queensland: NE coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Predator, sedentary.

History of changes

• Theridiosoma Cambridge, O.P.- 1879. On some new and rare British spiders, with characters of a new genus. Annals and Magazine of Natural History 5 4: 190-215 [193].

  Type species:

   Theridiosoma argentiolum Cambridge, 1879 by subsequent designation, see Simon, E. 1881. Les Arachnides de France. Paris Vol. 5(1) 179 pp. [26] (= Theridium gemmosum Koch, 1877).

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Worldwide.

IBRA

NSW, Qld: Brigalow Belt North (BBN), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Central Mackay Coast (CMC), Cape York Peninsula (CYP), Desert Uplands (DEU), Einasleigh Uplands (EIU), NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal
  • Queensland: NE coastal

Distribution References

History of changes

• Theridiosoma circuloargenteum Wunderlich, J. 1976. Spinnen aus Australien 1. Uloboridae, Theridiosomatidae und Symphytognathidae. Senckenbergiana Biologica 57: 113-124 [118].

  Type data:

   Holotype SMF 29060 ♂ adult, Ku-ring-gai National Park, NSW.

Distribution

States

New South Wales

IBRA

NSW: NSW North Coast (NNC), Sydney Basin (SB), South East Corner (SEC), South Eastern Queensland (SEQ)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: SE coastal

Ecological Descriptors

Predator, sedentary.

History of changes