Take a long look into the face of the world’s largest two-dimensional wheel-web weaving spider: The Golden Orb-weaver (Nephila pilipes).
The red appendages, projecting forward from the head region, are sensory organs called palps. They detect scent, sound and vibration. Between them are the powerful chelicerae; made up of the base segment and the fangs. Above, the cephalothorax houses six eyes with a three-dimensional outlook.
Gigantism in these animals correlates with increased temperature, so I suppose it is inevitable that we should all enjoy a closer familiarity in this anthropogenically-exacerbated interglacial warming period.
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD has worked in industry and government. She is currently researching a novel technique for long-range weather forecasting funded by the B. Macfie Family Foundation.
As ever, superb stuff from Neil. Have golden orb-weavers got bigger during the 20th century? Do we have a golden orb-weaver ‘hockey stick!?’
I saw a movie about men being attacked by giant ants which were created by radioactivity from nuclear testing in the 1950’s. Maybe they can fight the giant spiders caused by global warming.
seven legs neil? Are we missing another story?
Are the webs or the spiders the largest?
A scale or some indication of size would be interesting.
Superb photo.
G’day Gavin,
It’s not that unusual for this species to loose a leg to a bird. It mostly occurs in early instars, but once severed, subsequent instars preclude regeneration.
Spiders chrisgo. They’re a little difficult to measure accurately as they hold their legs slightly flexed with the web under constant tension. However, I would estimate ~200mm (8”) long.
Is this a photo of ‘Luke’ making a comeback in another guise? Is there no end to his ingenuity?