Phylogenetic relationships of Actinacantha Simon, Gasteracantha Sundevall, Macracantha Hasselt and Thelacantha Simon spiny orbweavers (Araneae: Araneidae) in Peninsular Malaysia Author Tan, Ji Author Chan, Zi Yang Author Ong, Ching Ang Author Yong, Hoi Sen text Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 2019 2019-02-14 67 32 55 journal article 10.26107/RBZ-2019-0003 2345-7600 5343178 026EF5FA-B910-41A8-9D86-3086D24319E9 Thelacantha brevispina ( Doleschall, 1857 ) ( Figs. 1H , 12 A−E) Plectana brevispina Doleschall, 1857: 423 Gasteracantha brevispina Workman & Workman, 1892: 8 , pl. 8 Thelacantha brevispina Benoit, 1964 Gasteracantha mammosa Barrion & Litsinger, 1995: 554 , figs. 341a−e Thelacantha brevispina Yin et al., 2012: 584 , figs. 281a−i Material examined. MALAYSIA . 2 females (reg. UIR010214- TBRE1 &2), Penang Hill , Penang Island , coll. Tan J , 1 Feb.2014 ; 1 female (reg. UIR090614- TBRE3 ), Gunung Jerai , Kedah , coll. Tan J and Chan ZY , 9 June.2014. Diagnosis. Female individuals of T. brevispina are identified based on the two large longitudinally ovoid depressions on the abdomen as well as posterior spines that occur on swollen tubercles. Natural history. In Peninsular Malaysia , female individuals appear to be abundant in the highlands close to human settlements. Sub-females may display lighter and vibrant abdominal coloration. Males not observed. Distribution. Madagascar , India , Southeast Asia, Australia and French Polynesia .