About Cosmophasis micarioides (L.Koch, 1880)
Cosmophasis micarioides shows significant differences in color and pattern between males and females. Males are black with iridescent blue-green bands, have a longitudinal mark on the abdomen, and a narrower abdomen than females. Subadult males have orange coloring on the top of the carapace, instead of the black seen in adult males. Females are orange-brown with lighter green and brown bands that run across the abdomen; their marking patterns are quite variable and not reliable for identifying the species. For both sexes, a key distinguishing feature of this species is that the stripes on the side of the head extend down to the rim of the carapace. This differs from the very similar species Cosmophasis thalassina, where black markings do not extend as far as the carapace rim. Cosmophasis micarioides is widespread and common in tropical Australia, ranging south as far as Brisbane. Adult body length (from head to abdomen) is 5 mm (0.20 in) for females and 6.5 mm (0.26 in) for males.
