The Nephilidae – Golden Silk Orb-Weavers, also known as “golden silk orb-weavers” in English, are a family of araneomorph spiders found in tropical and subtropical regions.
Here are some key characteristics of the Nephilidae:
- Size: Nephilids are generally large spiders, with females sometimes reaching over 10 cm in body diameter. Males are much smaller, rarely exceeding one centimeter.
- Their webs are typically very large and complex in appearance.
- Golden silk: Nephilids produce exceptionally strong golden silk, which has earned them the name “golden silk orb-weavers.”
- Reproduction: Mating in nephilids can be complex. Males often have to devise strategies to avoid being eaten by females after mating. Females lay their eggs in silk cocoons.
- Distribution: Nephilids are found throughout tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including Africa, South America, Asia, and Australia.
Genus Trichonephila
The genus Trichonephila is a group of spiders belonging to the family Nephilidae, also known as orb-weaving or geometric web spiders. This genus includes several species distributed across different parts of the world, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions.
Characteristics:
Orb web:
Like other orb-weavers, species of Trichonephila build circular webs with a complex geometric pattern.
Size and color:
Spiders of the genus Trichonephila are generally medium to large in size, and some species display vivid colors and striking abdominal patterns.
Sexual dimorphism:
As in many spiders, marked sexual dimorphism is observed in the genus Trichonephila. Females are typically much larger than males and have more conspicuous abdominal patterns. Males are smaller and less colorful. Once mating has occurred, females lay eggs in a silken sac which they guard until the young hatch.
Trichonephila antipodiana
| Order | Aranea |
|---|---|
| Family (Aranea) | Nephilidae |
| Genus | Trichonephila |
| Species | Antipodiana |
| Identifier | Walckenaer |
| Year identified | 1841 |
| Male size min | |
| Male size max | 2.8 |
| Female size min | |
| Female size max | 27.3 |
| Color | Black/Grey/Yellow |
| Prosoma/Cephalothorax | Grey |
| Opisthosoma/Abdomen | black and yellow |
| Legs (Aranea) | dark |
| Spider habitat | Forest, Tall grasses, elevated areas, near the ground |
| Web | vertical, extremely strong silk thread |
| Period start | January |
| Period end | December |
| Range | Asia, Oceania |
| Distinctive features |
References:
https://www.gbif.org/fr/species/165937803
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichonephila_antipodiana
https://wsc.nmbe.ch/species/22432/Trichonephila_antipodiana
https://eol.org/pages/89187/articles