Araneidae Cyrtarachne

Cyrtarachne sp. "Homer Simpson"

Homer Simpson Bird Dung Spider

At first glance, the conspicuously paired convex protuberances on the dorsum remind one of the extraordinarily large eyes of the cartoon character Homer Simpson. Although such protuberances are similar to those of C. inaequalis. they are proportionately larger, leaving only a narrower gap between them. (In C. inaequalis, the gap is wider than the diameter of each protuberance.) The pattern of the protuberance also differs from that of C. inaequalis, with a circular greyish outline at the base, and an intricate network of pale streaks surrounding a pinkish button at the top.

This species may be identical with, or closely related to, Cyrtarachne raniceps Pocock, 1900, first described from Sri Lanka and subsequently reported in parts of India, but this cannot be ascertained until the type specimen is examined.