Order Araneae Rank Species | Genus Nephilengys Higher classification Nephilengys | |
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Similar Nephilengys, Nephilidae, Herennia, Arachnid, Herennia multipuncta | ||
Nephilengys malabarensis is a nephilid spider.
Contents
Females reach a body length of about 15 millimetres (0.59 in). The legs and palp are annulated yellow and black. Male body size less than 5 millimetres (0.20 in), with mostly grey-black legs .
N. malabarensis is being preyed upon by the spider-eating jumping spider Portia .
Name
The species name malabarensis refers to the Malabar coast of southern India, where it was first found.
Distribution
N. malabarensis occurs in South, South-East and East Asia from India and Sri Lanka to the Philippines, north to Yunnan, China, north-east to Saga and Kompira, Japan and east to Ambon Island of Indonesia. It is common at human dwellings and less common in rainforest. The Niah population (at the moment still recognized as a separate species, N. niahensis) inhabits cave entrances. The Australian and New Guinean populations will be separated under the name Nephilengys papuana soon .