Rhomphaea labiata
Tiger Cowrie Boomerang Spider
In both sexes, the apex of the abdomen has a tiny translucent finger-like modified spine. The abdomen is about four times longer than the cephalothorax.
The female abdomen shows a mosaic of brown and silvery spots, like the shell of a tiger cowrie, a marine snail. The anterior half of the male abdomen is mostly translucent, while the posterior half is adorned with silvery plates interspersed with brownish lines.
The name "labiata" is derived from the word "labia", the Latin word for "lip". It refers to the characteristic lip-like outgrowth from the epigyne that is visible under a hand-lens. Such lip-like outgrowth can be found in some other local Rhomphaea species, but they are shaped differently.
| Length | ♀ 4–10 mm; ♂ 3–5 mm. |
| Habitat | Foliage in primary and secondary forests. |
| Biology | The egg sac is spindle-shaped. |
| Type Locality | Bobai, Guangxi, China. |
| Distribution | Brunei, China, Japan, Laos, Singapore. |