Rorschach Block-headed Spider
The species may be recognised by its abdominal patterns. The female abdomen has a sparse mix of dots and black rings. The male abdomen pattern is made of what appears to be a collection of random inkblots used in Rorschach psychological tests. In some males, a white patch may be seen near the posterior end of the dorsum. The cephalothorax of the male is tall and block-like. The genitalia and general appearance of this spider suggest that the species should have been classified under Phycosoma.
Length | ♀ 2–3 mm; ♂ 3 mm. |
Habitat | Foliage in secondary forests and mangrove fringes. |
Type Locality | Szechuan, China. |
Distribution | China, Laos, Singapore. |
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
Class Arachnida (Arachnids)
Order Araneae (Spiders)
Suborder Araneomorphae (Typical Spiders)
Paoningia turriceps (Original description ♂)
Schenkel, 1936b Schwedisch-chinesische wissenschaftliche Expedition nach den nordwestlichen Provinzen Chinas, unter Leitung von Dr: 42, f. 12
Paoningia turriceps (♂)
Levi & Levi, 1962 The genera of the spider family Theridiidae: 41, f. 62
Dipoena turriceps (♂, D♀)
Zhu, 1998 Fauna Sinica: Arachnida: Araneae: Theridiidae: 244, f. 161A-F
Dipoena turriceps (♂♀)
Song, Zhu & Chen, 1999 The spiders of China: 112, f. 57C-D, I
Dipoena turriceps (♂)
Yin et al., 2012 Fauna Hunan: Araneae in Hunan, China: 325, f. 127a-c
Nontype ♂
11 May 2015
BTNR, Senapang Trail, maturing secondary forest, Singapore
1°20'53"N,103°46'20"E
Catalog No: 15.05.11.31.0005
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
China, Laos, Singapore.