Araneidae – Phonognatha melania – Leaf-curling Spider

Class Arachnida; Order Araneae; Infraorder Araneomorphae; Family Araneidae (Orb-weavers); Scientific name: Phonognatha melania; Common name: Leaf-curling Spider – Female at the upper entrance of her retreat - Distribution in Australia: present in Tasmania and all mainland states except the Northern Territory,; absent in the arid areas of the centre and the north-west –Photographed: in December, in Peak Charles NP, Western Australia.