Araneidae – Argiope protensa – Tear-drop Spider

Class Arachnida; Order Araneae; Infraorder Araneomorphae; Family Araneidae (Orb-weavers); Scientific name: Argiope protensa; Common name: Teardrop Spider; Alternative common name: St Andrew’s Cross Spider – Female - Distribution in Australia: present in all mainland states and northern Tasmania inclusive of the deserts of the centre; plus on the Torres Strait islands – Photographed: in June, in Rudall River National Park, in Little Sandy Desert, Western Australia.