---
title: "Spined Micrathena"
description: "Micrathena gracilis — Insekten & Spinnen. Micrathena gracilis is a spider in the family Araneidae (orb-weavers), commonly known as the spined micrathena or castleback orbweaver."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/de/animal/spined-micrathena
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Spined Micrathena

> Micrathena gracilis — Insekten & Spinnen. Micrathena gracilis is a spider in the family Araneidae (orb-weavers), commonly known as the spined micrathena or castleback orbweaver.

- Scientific name: *Micrathena gracilis*
- Category: `insects` (Insekten & Spinnen)
- Habitats: unknown
- iNaturalist observations: 24611
- Wikidata: [Q2380631](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2380631)
- iNaturalist taxon: [85333](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/85333)

## Names

- en: Spined Micrathena
- es: Araña de panza espinosa

## Countries with the most observations

US (19399), MX (1912), CA (1666), HN (122), CR (117), NI (72), SV (58), GT (42), BZ (26)

## Summary

Micrathena gracilis is a spider in the family Araneidae (orb-weavers), commonly known as the spined micrathena or castleback orbweaver. This spider spins a moderately large (can be about 20 cm long in diameter) and very tightly coiled web. The spiders themselves are small and can be found to be anywhere from 4.2 mm to 10.8 mm long. Its venom is harmless to humans. M. gracilis is unique in appearance due to its large spiky abdomen and black and white bodies. Certain spiders of this species can also display a yellow color on the sides of their bodies. These spiders can be seen most active during the end of the summer…

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spined_micrathena

## Photo

![Spined Micrathena](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/spined-micrathena/medium.jpg)

Photo: ssunflowered · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/52987151

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/spined-micrathena?lang=de` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).