Garden Wolf Spider - Lycosa godeffroyi (or a closely related species)

FAMILY LYCOSIDAE

This page contains pictures and information about Garden Wolf Spiders that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.


Body length 15mm

This Wolf Spider can be found hunting on ground in garden at night. They move very fast when in pursuit of prey.



The second picture shows its large chelicerae. Also notice the arrangement of it eight eyes.

This species has the distinct light banding on the side of the carapace

Thank to Dr Volker W. Framenau for the identification of this spider. As Dr Framenau suggested, Wolf Spiders are often difficult to identify based on photographs alone.
Reference:
1. A Guide to Australian Spiders - Densey Clyne, Melbourne, Nelson 1969, p45.
2. Wolf spider Lycosa godeffroyi - The Find-a-spider Guide for Australian Spiders, University of Southern Queensland, 2007.
3. Lycosa godeffroyi L. Koch - Australian Insect Common Names, 2005.
4. Lycosa godeffroyi L. Koch, 1865 - The Wolf Spiders of Australia (Araneae, Lycosidae).
5. Spiders of Australia: An Introduction to Their Classification, Biology & Distribution - Hawkeswood T, Pensoft Pub, 2003, p49.