Nephilengys malabarensis

Fact Box Species: Nephilengys malabarensis (QM) (also matching an image shown by Joseph Koh, Singapore) Family: Nephilidae formerly Argiopidae then Tetragnathidae Body length: female: about 22 mm male: 5 mm Habitat: In a reasonably large web suspended from walls or tree trunks; the small male may be seen on the edge of the web Toxicity: Unknown; probably harmless but a large spider so handle with caution

Front view Side view

This species is said to be common in India and South-East Asia. It has also been reported as occurring in Northern Australia but the images shown on this page are of a specimen found in rainforest at Noosa on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland. This seems to indicate it has a wider range that is commonly thought.

Nephilengys malabarensis is quite similar in overall body and leg shape to the more common Nephila species but the female lacks the brushes on the legs that characterise Nephila edulis and its relatives. The surface markings of this species are also distinctive.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: None.