Nephilengys livida

Nephilengys livida
female N. livida
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Suborder: Araneomorphae
Family: Nephilidae
Genus: Nephilengys
Species: N. livida
Binomial name
Nephilengys livida
(Vinson, 1863)
Synonyms

Epeira livida
Nephilengys cruentata livida
Nephilengys borbonica livida

Nephilengys livida is a nephilid spider from Madagascar and nearby islands. It was found to be separate from the related species Nephilengys borbonica in 2011[1]

Anatomy

Female

The color of the abdomen ranges from creamy to brown, blue or purple, with a dark brown venter. Females reach a length of about 15 to 24mm.[1]

Male

Males only reach a length of 3 to 5 mm, with a yellow-brown sternum and a grey abdomen with white dots.[1]

Distribution

N. livida occurs in Madagascar and surrounding islands, such as the Comoro Islands and Seychelles (including the Aldabra atoll). They are common in human dwellings in Madagascar.

Name

The species name is derived from Latin "lividus", which can mean "malicious" as well as "bluish".

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kuntner & Agnarsson 2011: Biogeography and diversification of hermit spiders on Indian Ocean islands (Nephilidae: Nephilengys). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 59:477-488.
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