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melvynyeo β€” Hairy Huntsman Spider

Published: 2013-08-20 15:43:37 +0000 UTC; Views: 8136; Favourites: 152; Downloads: 70
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Description A closer look. Taken at night in Singapore. Wider view

Quote en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntsman…
Members of the Sparassidae are common in Australia, but also in many warm-temperate-to-tropical parts of the world. They have been accidentally introduced to many parts of the world, including China, Philippines, Japan, India and southern parts of the United States, such as Florida and Puerto Rico. A species of huntsman can be found in Hawaii, where it is commonly known as a cane spider. In general they are likely to be found wherever ships may bring them as unintended passengers to areas that are not too cold for them to survive in the winter. In southern Africa they are commonly known as rain spiders because of their tendency to seek shelter before rain storms, often entering human habitations when doing so.

As adults, huntsman spiders do not build webs, but hunt and forage for food: their diet consists primarily of insects and other invertebrates, and occasionally small skinks and geckos. They live in the crevices of tree bark, but will frequently wander into homes and vehicles. They are able to travel extremely fast, often using a springing jump while running, and walk on walls and even on ceilings. They also tend to exhibit a "cling" reflex if picked up, making them difficult to shake off and much more likely to bite. The females are fierce defenders of their egg sacs and young. They will generally make a threat display if provoked, but if the warning is ignored they may attack and bite. The egg sacs differ fairly widely among the various genera. For example, Palystes females generally suspend large purses in bushes. The sac is reinforced with dead leaves and similar material; if built indoors without disturbance, scraps of paper might be collected and used instead.
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Comments: 27

Lightningball [2013-09-24 15:56:41 +0000 UTC]

Very good picture!

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melvynyeo In reply to Lightningball [2013-09-28 07:53:30 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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LaceyJibs [2013-08-26 20:30:24 +0000 UTC]

His ability to camouflage must have made him very hard to spot! Great work !Β  Β 

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melvynyeo In reply to LaceyJibs [2013-08-28 05:53:04 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!!

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MojoLiazon [2013-08-21 22:02:15 +0000 UTC]

I've read in books that the main difference between hunstmans and wolf spiders that's easy to tell is the square formation of the smaller eyes. If that's true then this would be a wolfie. But a lot of the old books are invalidated because the info is updated. Can you clarify how it's differentiated, if you know?


It's a good pic.

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melvynyeo In reply to MojoLiazon [2013-08-28 06:02:02 +0000 UTC]

Wolf spider eyes arranged in three rows. The bottom row consists of four small eyes, the middle row has two very large eyes and the top row has two medium-sized eyes.
The top eyes are not visible in this pic.

Huntsman spider eyes are arrange in two rows of four.

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MojoLiazon In reply to melvynyeo [2013-08-29 09:52:20 +0000 UTC]

Interesting and thanks! A lot of the info I've found in books has been wrong, I'm always updating it.Β 

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melvynyeo In reply to MojoLiazon [2013-08-29 15:25:44 +0000 UTC]

NP

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Wilkinator [2013-08-21 05:39:14 +0000 UTC]

How big is it?

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melvynyeo In reply to Wilkinator [2013-08-28 06:02:31 +0000 UTC]

Body size wo legs are 1.5 inches.

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Kenyu05KR [2013-08-21 05:36:05 +0000 UTC]

man I wish to experience the vision of an 8-eyed animal

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melvynyeo In reply to Kenyu05KR [2013-08-28 06:02:47 +0000 UTC]

Haha... might cause dizziness

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Kenyu05KR In reply to melvynyeo [2013-08-29 19:06:27 +0000 UTC]

haha yeah. But it's crazy! Ofcourse it explains how they can react so fast.

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Trutze [2013-08-20 19:44:57 +0000 UTC]

such a beauty

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melvynyeo In reply to Trutze [2013-08-28 06:02:52 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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Wolfy-89 [2013-08-20 18:48:49 +0000 UTC]

Wow, fussy!

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melvynyeo In reply to Wolfy-89 [2013-08-28 06:02:58 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

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Wolfy-89 In reply to melvynyeo [2013-08-30 16:42:27 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

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cskadoz [2013-08-20 17:38:02 +0000 UTC]

x 1000 awesome pic

ack! s-s-spider! we hates-s it precious-s-s!

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melvynyeo In reply to cskadoz [2013-08-28 06:03:08 +0000 UTC]

Haha Thanks!

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Gallanty [2013-08-20 15:51:02 +0000 UTC]

Reason #3514 not to go to Australia. However, beautiful shot. How come your "models" seem always so relaxed and unperturbed?

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melvynyeo In reply to Gallanty [2013-08-28 06:04:09 +0000 UTC]

At night, most of them are less skittish

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VinniLala In reply to Gallanty [2013-08-25 18:03:22 +0000 UTC]

Huntsman Spiders live everywhere on the planet and as you can see this one's from Singapore. ^^'

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Gallanty In reply to VinniLala [2013-08-25 20:26:41 +0000 UTC]

But the article says they're even common in Australia, so Singapore might still be the better choice. D:

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VinniLala In reply to Gallanty [2013-08-25 21:11:52 +0000 UTC]

Hm yeah, that's true. I've had a presentation in school about Australia and mentioned the huntsman spiders as well because they are extremely common there.

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Gallanty In reply to VinniLala [2013-08-25 21:46:16 +0000 UTC]

Australia just wants to kill you.

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VinniLala In reply to Gallanty [2013-08-26 21:08:59 +0000 UTC]

Ahahaha definitly. xD

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