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the web of life in southern Africa

Caerostris sexcuspidata

Life > Eukaryotes > Opisthokonta > Metazoa (animals) > Bilateria > Ecdysozoa > Panarthropoda > Tritocerebra > Arthropoda > Arachnomorpha > Cheliceriformes > Chelicerata > Euchelicerata > Arachnida > Araneae > Araneomorpha > Family: Araneidae > Genus: Caerostris
Caerostris sexcuspidata female rear view

Caerostris sexcuspidata female, rear view. [image N. Larsen ©]

Caerostris sexcuspidata female, front view. [image N. Larsen ©]

Caerostris sexcuspidata, although nocturnal, can be found on her web in shaded forested areas during the day. This is the most widespread species in the genus, occurring south of the 5° North (central and east Africa) It is the common species in South Africa and the species with the most variations in abdomen shape. C. sexcuspidata is so variable in colour and form, that when I started observing spiders, I thought that there were six species in the forests of the Cape Peninsula.

Text by Norman Larsen ©