Redescription of Australian crab spider Diaea pulleinei Rainbow, 1915 (Araneae: Thomisidae)

Abstract

Species richness of described crab spiders (Family Thomisidae) in Australia is low. Altogether 123 species of the family are known from this continent. One of the most abundantly represented genera of crab spiders in Australia is Diaea (31 recognized species). This paper revises knowledge of one species of this genus, Diaea pulleinei Rainbow, 1915, supplementing its description with the hitherto unknown female.

Evidence for UV-based sensory exploitation in Australian but not European crab spiders

“…The evolution of UV-reflection in crab spiders could be traced along a phylogeny of crab spiders that indicates which species are ancestral and which derived. However, the phylogeny and biogeography of crab spiders has not been established and in particular Australian crab spider diversity and taxonomy are poorly studied (Szymkowiak 2007). Nevertheless, it is likely that aspects of the Australian environment select for increased UV-reflection in crab spiders.…”