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by Joseph K H Koh

	Mangrove Big-Jawed Spider Tetragnatha josephi Okuma 1988
	Female Male: note the swollen palps Members of this family build delicate orb-webs with open hubs. The webs are suspended horizontally or in an inclined plane. Members of the species Tetragnatha are stick-like spiders with long legs and well-developed jaws. The male jaws are particularly elongated and are equipped with a spur each. These are instrumental in locking the jaws of the female during mating. Most Tetragnatha spiders appear superficially similar. They can, however, be identified by examining the arrangement of teeth on the jaws. Classification: Family Tetragnathidae, Big-Jawed Spiders. Habitat: Mangrove swamps. Female: 6.5-10 mm. Male: 5.5-6 mm. Distribution: Singapore. T. josephi female's left jaw, lower view T. josephi male's left jaw, upper view
	From "A Guide to Common Singapore Spiders" by Joseph K. H. Koh BP Guide to Nature Series published by the Singapore Science Centre and sponsored by British Petroleum © 2000 Joseph K H Koh