Colour variation and polymorphism in the Giant orb-weaving spider Nephila vitiana (Araneae: Nephilidae) from Lombok, Indonesia
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2011
Abstract
The Giant orb-weaving spider Nephila vitiana occurred in large number in a patch of mangrove vegetation in Gili Meno, Lombok, Indonesia. Two abdominal (opisthosomal) colour morphs – yellow and greenish-yellow – were present in adult female spiders. They were equally abundant. A single female of the yellow morph was found in Sekotong on the main Lombok Island. The dorsum of the abdomen in the yellow morph was decorated with five pairs of sigillae. In the greenish morph, the dorsum was marked with five pairs of white-spotted sigillae or yellow spots. The present observation does not show unequivocally the association of colouration with habitat usage. Whether yellow colour in N. vitiana confers a selective advantage remains to be verified. The juvenile female spiders have different colour pattern from the adults.
Keywords
Nephila vitiana, Colour polymorphism, Spider, Colour variation, New record, West Nusa Tenggara
Divisions
InstituteofBiologicalSciences
Publication Title
Journal of Science and Technology in the Tropics
Volume
7
Issue
1
Publisher
Akademi Sains Malaysia & Confederation of Scientific & Technological Association in Malaysia (COSTAM)