Double-tailed Tent Spider

Description:

Cyrtophora exanthematica Doleschall, 1859 "Their common name 'double-tailed tent spider' comes from the pair of blunt projections at the posterior end of their abdomens. They are also known under other common names in Australia, including dome spider, bowl spider, pan-web spider, and scoop-web spider. Like other members of the genus Cyrtophora, the upper side of the cephalothorax of double-tailed tent spiders are flattened. The cephalothorax, the sides of the abdomen, and the legs are covered with white hairs. Its leg formula is I,II,III,IV – that is, the longest legs are the first pair at the front, the second pair the next longest, the third pair shorter than the second, and the last pair the shortest. The eight eyes are more or less of equal size and arranged in two recurved rows.They also possess the characteristic pair of humps on the front side of their abdomen, somewhat resembling 'shoulders' and giving them the distinctive triangular shape. On the upper side are eight prominent sigilla (small pit-like depressions) arranged in two rows. The abdomen is subrectangular, with somewhat flat sides, and has small tubercules at the front. It is longer than it is wide and tapers down towards the rear. The bottom side of the abdomen is usually brown with yellow book lungs." Wikipedia.

Habitat:

Spotted on Sponge Gourd Luffa acutangula in our vegetable plot.

Notes:

Wikipedia provides pictures which show the differences between males and females. So it can easily be seen that my specimen is female.