First iNat records of Gasteracantha signifera

Gasteracantha signifera is a stunning black-and-red species from the Solomon Islands, and @devonderaad recently uploaded the first two iNaturalist records of the species:

• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/27789536
• https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/27852968

There are very few photographs of this species available on the internet, and up until now none have been properly identified. Here are a few examples identified only as Gasteracantha sp.:

• https://www.mindenpictures.com/gallery/preview/23/1383/716/0/spiked-spider-gasteracantha-sp-their-abdomen-or-opisthosoma-is-heavily/0_00298206.html
• https://www.flickr.com/photos/artour_a/29614523086
• https://www.alamy.com/stock-image-spiked-spider-or-spine-spider-gasteracantha-sp-in-solomon-island-162396007.html

The Solomon Islands has other spectacular Gasteracantha species not yet recorded on iNaturalist (like G. scintillans), and so does neighboring Vanuatu. Keep your eyes open, and thanks to @devonderaad for sharing G. signifera with the community!

Posted on July 5, 2019 11:23 PM by djringer