Trichonephilia fenestrata is a species of nephilid spider known from Africa. It was first described by Tamerlan Thorell in 1859 as Nephila fenestrata, and was later moved to Trichonephila when it was elevated to genus status by Kuntner in 2019.
Three subspecies are known from different parts of Africa. Males of this species often autotomize their legs as a counter-adaptation to the sexual cannibalism of females.
Trichonephila fenestrata fenestrata (Thorell, 1859)
kingdom Animalia - animals » phylum Arthropoda - arthropods » class Arachnida - arachnids » order Araneae - spiders » family Araneidae - Orb-weaver spider » genus Trichonephila » species Trichonephila fenestrate
Orb-weaver spiders or araneids are members of the spider family Araneidae. They are the most common group of builders of spiral wheel-shaped webs often found in gardens, fields and forests. "Orb" can in English mean "circular", hence the English name of the group. Araneids have eight similar eyes, hairy or spiny legs, and no stridulating organs.
The family is cosmopolitan, including many well-known large or brightly colored garden spiders. With 3122 species in 172 genera worldwide, Araneidae is the third-largest family of spiders (behind Salticidae and Linyphiidae). Araneid webs are constructed in a stereotyped fashion. A framework of nonsticky silk is built up before the spider adds a final spiral of silk covered in sticky droplets.
