| Austracantha minax | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Suborder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Araneidae |
| Genus: | Austracantha Dahl, 1914 |
| Species: | A. minax |
| Binomial name | |
| Austracantha minax (Thorell, 1859) |
|
| Diversity | |
| 1 species, 4 subspecies | |
Austracantha minax (with common names including Australian jewel spider, Christmas spider and spiny spider) is a distinctive Australian spider.
This species occurs throughout most of Australia. They like to make their webs in shrubby woodlands in large communities of spiders with each individual web connected together into a miniature spider city (pictured below).
Eggs sacs are red-brown, and can be a variety of shapes. They are usually attached to a twig near the web. Females are larger than males measuring 7 mm as opposed to the males' smaller 4 mm.
The bite of A. minax is only mildly painful, with a temporary local reaction.