Australasian Arachnids
Species level identification of Australasian arachnids is generally only possible with the help of scattered original taxonomic papers. Here, resources for the identification of arachnids are listed, with information on their biology and ecology. An excellent start to the identification of arachnids to order level is Harvey and Yen’s Worm to Wasps. An Illustrated Guide to Australia’s Terrestrial Invertebrates. Die Arachniden Australiens, nach der Natur beschrieben und abgebildet (Australian arachnids, described and illustrated from nature) by Ludwig Koch continued by Graf Eugen von Keyserling, remains the benchmark literature on Australian arachnids, totalling 1768 pages plus plates.
- Koch, L. 1871. Die Arachniden Australiens 1: 1-104 Koch_1871 (2.7MB)
- Koch, L. 1872. Die Arachniden Australiens 1: 105-368 Koch_1872 (6.5MB)
- Koch, L. 1873. Die Arachniden Australiens 1: 369-471 Koch_1873 (2.5MB)
- Koch, L. 1874. Die Arachniden Australiens 1: 473-576 Koch_1874 (2.2MB)
- Koch, L. 1875. Die Arachniden Australiens 1: 577-740 Koch_1875 (3.4MB)
- Koch, L. 1876. Die Arachniden Australiens 1: 741-888 Koch_1876 (2.7MB)
- Koch, L. 1877. Die Arachniden Australiens 1: 889-968 Koch_1877 (1.6MB)
- Koch, L. 1878. Die Arachniden Australiens 1: 969-1044 Koch_1878 (1.5MB)
- Koch, L. 1879. Die Arachniden Australiens 1: 1145-1156 Koch_1879 (2.2MB)
- Koch, L. 1880. Die Arachniden Australiens 1: 1157-1212 Koch_1880 (1.2MB)
- Koch, L. 1881. Die Arachniden Australiens 1: 1213-1271 Koch_1881 (1.2MB)
- Keyserling, E. 1881. Die Arachniden Australiens 1: 1272-1324 Keyserling_1881 (1.0MB)
- Keyserling, E. 1882. Die Arachniden Australiens 1: 1325-1420 Keyserling_1882 (1.8MB)
- Keyserling, E. 1883. Die Arachniden Australiens 1: 1421-1489 Keyserling_1883 (1.3MB)
- Koch and Keyserling, E. 1871-1883. Die Arachniden Australiens 1: plates I – LXII Koch_Keyserling_1871_1883_plates_1 (3.9MB)
- Koch and Keyserling, E. 1871-1883. Die Arachniden Australiens 1: plates LXIII – CXXIII Koch_Keyserling_1871_1883_plates_2 (4.2MB)
- Keyserling, E. 1885. Die Arachniden Australiens 2: 1-86 Keyserling_1885 (6.8MB)
- Keyserling, E. 1886. Die Arachniden Australiens 2: 87-152 Keyserling_1886 (4.9MB)
- Keyserling, E. 1887. Die Arachniden Australiens 2: 153-232 Keyserling_1887 (5.6MB)
- Keyserling, E. 1890. Die Arachniden Australiens 2: 233-274 Keyserling_1890 (2.9MB)
- Keyserling, E. 1885-1890. Die Arachniden Australiens 2: plates I – XXIV Keyserling_1885_1890_(plates) (2.9MB)
Amblypygi (Whip Scorpions
- Harvey, M.S. (2013). Whip scorpions of the World , Western Australian Museum, Perth.
Acari (Mites)
- Acari The Mites David Evans Walter, Gerald Krantz, and Evert Lindquist
- Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems Acarina / Acari (mites)
- Halliday Mites of Australia A Checklist and Bibliography (2017 online edition)
- Halliday Article written for Australasian Arachnology
- Walter, University of Queensland; Proctor, Griffith University Mites in Soil CD ROM
- Hunt, Norton, Kelly, Colloff and Lindsay Oribatid Mites CD-Rom
- Invasive Mite Identification: Tools for Quarantine and Plant Protection by D.E. Walter, 2006 updated 2017
- M.S. Harvey The Australian Water Mites : A Guide to Families and Genera
Araneae (Spiders)
Recent estimates suggest up to 20,000 spider species in Australia alone, of which only around 4,000 are currently named. A large number of species descriptions date back to the 19th century. Accurate species level identification is often only possible by examining original type material. For resources to spider families see the World Spider Catalogue which is free to join and gives access to literature in which names appear.
- A field guide to Spiders of Australia CSIRO Publishing 2017, by Robert Whyte and Greg Anderson, is the most comprehensive account of Australian spiders ever published, 468 pages, 1350 images, 78 families, 381 genera and 836 species.
- Australian Spiders 1_45 compiled by Volker Framenau
- Framenau, Baehr and Zborowski A Guide to the Spiders of Australia . Species such as the Redback and the Sydney Funnel-web sit alongside less well known but equally intriguing spiders such as the ant-mimics and net-casting spiders. The introduction covers spider structure, evolution, reproduction, silk and venom.
- Australian Spiders. Collection, Perservation and Identification provides family level identification of spiders in Australia. Nearly 20 years after it was published, the arrangement of some spider families has changed, but this guide remains a valuable tool for higher level identification of spiders.
- Spiders of Australia: Interactive Identification to Subfamily Raven, Baehr & Harvey, Queensland Museum, Western Australian Museum
- Paquin, Dupérré & Vink (2010) Spiders of New Zealand: Annotated Family Key & Species List features more than 500 illustrations, a key to spider families, notes on spider anatomy, some tips for specimen examination and a comprehensive bibliography.
- Arachne.org.au (Robert Whyte)
- Atlas of Living Australia
- Australian & NZ Arachnid Photography (Facebook)
- Bowerbird (Ken Walker)
- Find a Spider (Ron Atkinson)
- Jumping Spiders (Heiko Metzner)
- Jumping Spiders (Jerzy Prószyński)
- Spiders of Australia (Ed Nieuwenhuys)
- Wolf Spiders by Volker Framenau