The spider species ''Nephila senegalensis'' is commonly known as the banded-legged golden orb-web spider. The name comes from the fact that the joints of the spider are typically coloured a golden yellow. It is common throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa, from
Senegal
Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤠(Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤠ðž ...
and
Yemen
Yemen (; ar, ٱلْيَمَن, al-Yaman), officially the Republic of Yemen,, ) is a country in Western Asia. It is situated on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula, and borders Saudi Arabia to the Saudi Arabia–Yemen border, north and ...
to
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
. Males are much smaller than females. These
spiders
Spiders ( order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species dive ...
are diurnal and weave impressive webs.
Subspecies
*''Nephila senegalensis annulata''
(Thorell, 1859)
*''Nephila senegalensis bragantina''
Brito Capello, 1867
*''Nephila senegalensis hildebrandti''
Dahl, 1912
*''Nephila senegalensis huebneri''
Dahl, 1912
*''Nephila senegalensis keyserlingi''
(Blackwall, 1865)
*''Nephila senegalensis nyikae''
Pocock, 1898
*''Nephila senegalensis schweinfurthi''
Simon, 1890
References
Araneidae
Spiders of Africa
Spiders described in 1842
{{Araneidae-stub