Cyclosa omonaga

Cyclosa omonaga
female from Japan
male from Hong Kong
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Araneidae
Genus: Cyclosa
Species:
C. omonaga
Binomial name
Cyclosa omonaga
Tanikawa, 1992

Cyclosa omonaga is a species of orb-weaver spider in the family Araneidae. The species name "omonaga" (おもなが) comes from the Japanese word meaning "long-faced", referring to the shape of the carapace.[1]

Taxonomy

The species was first described by Akio Tanikawa in 1992 based on specimens collected from various locations across Japan.[1] Prior to its formal description, specimens of this species had been misidentified as other Cyclosa species, including C. insulana, C. japonica, and others in various publications.[1]

Distribution

C. omonaga has been recorded from China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.[2] In Japan, the species has been found in multiple prefectures including Okayama, Mie, Wakayama, Nara, Shimane, Kagawa, Ehime, Fukuoka, Kumamoto, and Miyazaki.[1]

Description

Cyclosa omonaga is a medium-sized orb weaver with females measuring 4.65-8.30 mm in body length and males 3.76-4.75 mm.[1] The carapace is pale brown and marginated with dark brown, often featuring a dark brown median line. The abdomen displays variable coloration patterns, typically silvery pale brown mottled with dark brown and silver, often with distinctive X-shaped or A-shaped silver markings.[1]

Females possess three prominent protuberances at the posterior end of the abdomen, which distinguishes them from closely related species such as C. albisternis, which has additional paired dorsal tubercles.[1] Males can be distinguished by the distinctive shape of the median apophysis and conductor of the palp.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Tanikawa, A. (1992). "A revisional study of the Japanese spiders of the genus Cyclosa (Araneae: Araneidae)". Acta Arachnologica. 41 (1): 30–32. doi:10.2476/asjaa.41.11.
  2. ^ "Cyclosa omonaga Tanikawa, 1992". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 28 August 2025.