Fernleigh track spiders

An unusual spider on Melaleuca tree near the Fernleigh Track, Belmont NSW, 4th November 2014.

I went for a stroll along the Fernleigh track on Tuesday night after dinner as mentioned in the previous post.  There was not much in the way of wildlife; in fact I only observed seven species in just over half an hour.

The wildlife was concentrated near the water as usual.  The track meanders through and around a couple of swamps, which are richly endowed with large, mature Melaleuca trees, that were alive with spiders.  The little spider posted on the top of the post was quite small, about as round as an Australian 20 c piece including her legs.  I will update this post if I can work out what species it is.  Do any of the readers know ?  Please comment if you know.

A large Fishing spider in head-down hunting posture on a Melaleuca trunk approx 20 cm
above the swamp edge.  Spider nearly as large as Australian 50c coin.
Fernleigh track, Belmont, NSW. 

The Melaleuca genus have loose, papery bark which gives the species its common name; "Paperbark".  They are an interesting tree, prospering in wetlands that regularly flood and also dry completely.  Melaleucas thrive where few other trees can survive.  Their scientific name loosely translates as "black and white", which is a ruddy good name for them if you have ever seen them after a fire.  Their bark burns rapidly on the outside but slowly on the inside, which insulates and shields the living tree from all but the most intense fires.

The bark peels away from the tree in great sheets, which provide homes for everything from cockroaches and tree frogs to microbats.  And Black house spiders like the big female pictured below.  She looks like she should be called a "Brown house spider", but I think the brown colour is from the intensity of the flash.  

Adult female Black house spider in her web on a Melaleuca tree, Fernleigh track, Belmont, NSW.

Same adult female Black house spider pictured above in her web
on a Melaleuca tree trunk, Fernleigh track, Belmont, NSW.