Linyphiidae Nesioneta

"Nesioneta" sp. "Durian-palped Sheet Web"

Durian-palped Sheet Web Spider

The male is easily recognised by the spiky look of its complex palps, like durians, with a branched tibial apophysis and a narrow and extended paracymbium (a branch of the palp cover) and other spur-like sclerites (plates). The dark brown abdomen is traversed by a palely coloured crescent across the mid-section. The ocular (eye) region is slightly elevated and protruding.

Judging from its palpal structures, the species is related to species currently classified under the genus Nesioneta, which comprises a few described species from Indonesia, Vietnam, some Pacific islands, the Seychelles, and the United Arab Emirates. The Singapore species is provisionally parked under this genus, but whether the species actually belongs to Nesioneta will require examination of female specimens (currently not available), and a thorough taxonomic review of Nesioneta and related genera.