About Venator spenceri Hogg, 1900
Venator spenceri is a species of wolf spider belonging to the family Lycosidae. It was first described in 1900 by Henry Roughton Hogg. This species is endemic to Australia, where it occurs in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, and is part of the region’s Bassian fauna with a distribution across southeastern Australia. All members of the genus Venator, including Venator spenceri, are medium-sized wolf spiders, with body lengths ranging from 9 to 22 millimeters. Their bodies are typically brownish, and they have a distinct black patch that covers the anterior three-quarters of their ventral surface. Venator spenceri can be told apart from other wolf spiders by its genitalic characteristics. In females, the epigyne has an elevated atrium that forms a raised edge bordering an inverted T-shaped median septum. In males, the tegular apophysis of the pedipalp often has a retrolateral incision that matches the edge on the female epigyne. This species is most commonly found in dry sclerophyll forests, showing its adaptation to temperate woodland habitats.
