This observation field is an attempt to start sorting out the synonyms and/or variations of G. cancriformis to aid in updating the observations when revisions to the genus are made in the future.
Observation | G. cancriformis synonym/variation |
---|---|
G. preciosa | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. preciosa | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
WhatSpinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis)Observerbioblitz2020Descriptionnot well focused photo. |
G. tetracantha |
Photos / SoundsWhatSpinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis)ObserverangelyromanPlaceMissing Location |
G. tetracantha |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. preciosa | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. tetracantha | |
G. preciosa | |
Photos / SoundsWhatSpinybacked Orbweaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis)Observerthyme_flowerPlacePrivate |
G. tetracantha |
G. tetracantha |
Hi Matt -- could you correct the spelling of the "G. bioyllei" value to "G. biolleyi" please? It's a distinctive form from Cocos Island (Costa Rica) and it looks like there are a couple of records in iNat! (Reference: https://wsc.nmbe.ch/refincluded/1359)
Great, thanks -- just added it to these two obs: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/9247561 and https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/21092733
Memorializing some notes on some of these forms -- not infallible; refs from WSC at https://wsc.nmbe.ch/genus/323/Gasteracantha
G. tetracantha: Four spines; Puerto Rico (where some show tiny anterior spines or bumps) and Lesser Antilles, with some transitional forms in the Bahamas. Levi lumped into G. cancriformis in 1996 without comment (after some discussion of range and variation in 1978).
G. pallida: Depicted as a four-spined yellow species by Koch 1844, without a location; McCook 1894 described it as occurring in California based on the "Marx Collection," which Levi 1978 says is “well-known for erroneous records…. the species [G. tetracantha] probably does not occur in the Southwest.” Dahl 1914 lumped this and the following species with G. tetracantha, expressing some doubt about the whole complex due to the variability.
G. preciosa: Described and illustrated by McCook 1894 as a new species similar to G. pallida but with extensive black marks on the abdomen (contrasting with yellow and red marks), with slight differences in sigilla and genitalia. Also from Marx and claimed to occur in Mojave desert. Per above, likely a mistake and actually from Caribbean. Also lumped by Dahl 1914 with G. tetracantha.
G. hexacantha: Used for different Brazil-Paraguay and Greater Antilles records by 18th and 19th century authors. Dahl 1914 lumped the Brazilian form described by Koch 1837 with G. servillei, and Koch’s drawing does look similar to wide-bodied, short-spined forms from Brazil today. Walckenaer 1841 described the Greater Antillean (Haiti) form in which "les épines ne sont que la prolongation du contour festonné de l’abdomen / the spines are only the prolongation of the scalloped outline of the abdomen” and which had only eight anterior sigilla and a rounder outline than the oblong Brazilian form. Dahl lumped the Greater Antillean “hexacantha” (which apparently has historical priority vs. the Brazilian descriptions) with G. cancriformis.
G. servillei: Brazil and Paraguay; Guérin 1825 described as yellow with short, conical, hairy spines and a yellow abdomen with 25 sigilla; Dahl 1914 described it as distinctive but grading imperceptibly into G. cancriformis.
G. biolleyi: Distinctive-looking long-spined form found on Cocos Island (Costa Rica).
See the discussion here: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/18597671