Plectana brevispina Doleschall, 1857[2] Thelacantha (Asian spinybacked orbweaver) is a genus of orb-weaver spiders containing the single species, Thelacantha brevispina.

It was first described by A. W. M. van Hasselt [fr] in 1882,[3] and has been found in Australia, Madagascar, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia, as well as parts of Japan.

[5] T. brevispina is closely related to those in the genus Gasteracantha and was briefly synonymized with it in 1859,[6] but revalidated in 1974.

[4] Females have six abdominal spines ending in distinct sharp points.

[5] T. brevispina has often been misidentified as Gasteracantha mammosa, which is now G. cancriformis.