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Transformation of the Mirror Spider

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12 July 2013

For several years, I have been observing the odd behavior of the Mirror Spider (Thwaitesia sp.) where the “silver-plates” on the abdomen seem to shrink when the spider is agitated (or perhaps threatened), revealing the actual abdomen. At rest, the silver plates expand and the spaces between the plates close up to become an almost uniform reflective surface. That is why I called it the Mirror Spider. Note that what I am posting are just field observations and not based on scientific literature.

Note: There is a version of my photo that is being re-distributed on the internet with the watermarks willfully removed, and captioned as Sequined Spider or Australian Stained-Glass Mirror Spider (Thwaitesia argentiopunctata). Note that there has not been any confirmation of the ID, and that this spider was found and shot in Singapore. Re-distribution of the photos without authorization is not allowed as they are copyrighted – DMCA takedown notices have been issued for unauthorized usage.

    Mirror Spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_9429
  1. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    A female Mirror Spider (Thwaitesia sp.) when on the move. Note that the silver plates on the abdomen are relatively small and spotty. Although I’m using the term “silver plates”, they could actually be guanine crystals.

  2. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_7495
  3. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    Posterior view shows that the silver plates pretty much covers its entire abdomen.

  4. Mirror spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_7349
  5. Mirror spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    When it stops to rest, the silver plates appear to expand, filling up the abdominal surface slowly.

  6. Mirror Spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_9752
  7. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    From above, the spider looks like an art work of stained glass!

  8. Mirror Spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_9767
  9. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    After an hour, the silver plates expanded to fill almost the entire abdomen!

  10. Mirror Spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_9978
  11. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    I continued the observation, and it closed up further. The top view of the Mirror Spider (Thwaitesia sp.) still revealed it’s heart-line surrounded by red patches

  12. Mirror Spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_9986
  13. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    To highlight the reflectiveness, I tried positioning the flash all over the place

  14. Mirror Spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_9975
  15. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    This was the closest I got of the silver-plates at their largest. This mirror spider (Thwaitesia sp.) is indeed fascinating!

  16. Mirror spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_7581
  17. Mirror spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    Posterior view, showing the tight arrangement of silver plates.

  18. Mirror spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_7609
  19. Mirror spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    View from above shows a beautiful stained-glass mirror-like surface!

  20. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_7505x
  21. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    Side-by-side comparison of the same sub-adult male mirror spider just minutes apart. The plates appear to be gold rather than silver.

  22. Mirror spider (Twaitesia sp.) - DSC_7358_anim_640
  23. Mirror spider (Twaitesia sp.)

    I also made a feeble attempt at animating the change in size of the silver plates, but it was really difficult.

  24. Mirror spider (Twaitesia sp.) - DSC_7550_anim_640
  25. Mirror spider (Twaitesia sp.)

    Another attempt from the dorsal view.

  26. Mirror-comb-footed spider animation - DSC_1708
  27. Mirror spider (Twaitesia sp.)

    After many attempts on various occasions and different specimens, I finally got a decent animation of the expansion/contraction effect!

  28. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_3104
  29. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    This is how the mature male looks like for the species found in Singapore, with distinct black patches forming over its ocular region and lateral edge of the cephalothorax.

  30. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_3650
  31. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    The male shares similar behavioral characteristics with respect to the expansion of silver plates. This particular specimen appears to have silver plates. It is not known if this varies across individuals.

  32. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_3311
  33. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    When I visited the Peruvian Amazon in 2015, I also found several mirror spiders with a green abdomen.

  34. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_1801
  35. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    The male was also green, with additional black patterns on its abdomen.

  36. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_1268
  37. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    Another male, but this had a dark green lateral lining at the edge of its cephalothorax.

  38. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_5655
  39. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    In Mozambique, I found this large female with cauliflower-shaped plates. Interestingly, this did not exhibit any kind of contraction nor expansion of plates like the one from Singapore.

  40. Mirror spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_6851b
  41. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    I also saw some mirror spiders from Madagascar in 2018. Most of them had a longitudinal red median band with an extended transverse band curved towards the back. The posterior tip of the abdomen also has two distinct red or black knobs.

  42. Mirror spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_7779
  43. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    This specimen is also from Madagascar, but does not have the two knobs on the posterior tip of its abdomen. Instead, there are two black spots.

  44. Mirror spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_9373b
  45. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    The silver plates of this species appears permanently expanded, resulting in an almost seamlessly mirror-like surface on the abdomen.

  46. Mirror spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_9392
  47. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    The lateral view shows the thin lines separating the silver plates.

  48. Comb-footed mirror spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_2388b
  49. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    This could be the mature female of the above specimens from Madagascar, but with what looks like a wider area of “stained glass”.

  50. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.) - DSC_1327b
  51. Mirror comb-footed spider (Thwaitesia sp.)

    I managed to find the male Thwaitesia from Madagascar as well. This has a much smaller abdomen which also lacks the pair of posterior knobs.

  52. Other Spiders with Silvery Abdomen

    Occasionally, I get asked if this mirror spider is the only one with reflective abdomens. The answer is a clear no. Here are some examples of spiders with similar silvery abdomens, and some appear to possess similar expansion behavior as well.

    Big-Jawed Spider (Mesida sp.) - DSC_1434
  53. Big-Jawed Spider (Mesida sp.)

    Mesida belongs to the Tetragnathidae family of big-jawed spiders, appears to possess a silvery abdomen.

  54. Big-Jawed Spider (Mesida sp.) - DSC_3284
  55. Big-Jawed Spider (Mesida sp.)

    Another Mesida, this time with shrunken silver plates.

  56. Big-jaw spider (Mesida sp.) - DSC_4827
  57. Big-jaw spider (Mesida sp.)

    The plates are really tiny sometimes, and appear gold in some instances too.

  58. Big-jawed spider (Leucauge sp.) - DSC_1105
  59. Big-jaw spider (Leucauge sp.)

    Silver plates can also be observed in some species of Leucauge, with some more prominent than others.

  60. Long-Jawed Spider (Tetragnatha sp.) - DSC_4860
  61. Big-jaw spider (Tetragnatha sp.)

    In fact, the abdominal micro-plates can be seen on several other genera of Tetragnathidae, and often in various colour forms other than silver.

  62. Comb-footed spider (Argyrodes sp.) - DSC_3466
  63. Comb-footed spider (Argyrodes sp.)

    Some species of Argyrodes have their abdomens partially covered with silver plates as well. They are kleptoparasites and are commonly found on the webs of other larger spiders to steal their food, especially Nephila sp.

  64. Drewdrop spider (Argyrodes sp.) - DSC_2998
  65. Comb-footed spider (Argyrodes sp.)

    In Mozambique, this Argyrodes is commonly called the dew-drop spider.

  66. Trashline orb weaver spider (Cyclosa sp.) - DSC_6090b
  67. Trashline orb weaver spider (Cyclosa sp.)

    Some species of Cyclosa have their abdomens almost completely covered with similar silver-like surfaces.

  68. Orb Weaver Spider (Cyclosa sp.) - DSC_4320
  69. Orb Weaver Spider (Cyclosa sp.)

    These Cyclosa have been observed to weave beautiful stabilimenta on their orb webs.

  70. Milkweed butterfly chrysalis (Euploea sp.) - DSC_3923
  71. Milkweed butterfly chrysalis (Euploea sp.)

    Slightly off topic but still on the reflective surfaces in arthropods, here’s the chrysalis of the milkweed butterfly. See if you can spot me in the reflection!

Do you have more photos of spiders with reflective abdomens? Please share them in the comments below!

More photos of the mirror spider can be viewed here.

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2 Comments
  1. Reply

    Lily Fore

    6 July 2021

    These spiders are just out of this world. I have no words. Awesome photos!

  2. Reply

    Doug Lowe

    6 April 2022

    I am in awe at the fantastic quality of the photographs; the mind boggling variety of creatures and all of these incredible beings on our mother Earth. Who needs to go exploring elsewhere in the universe? And I will tell you what that these little beings have much to reveal to the world of science which is only scratching the surface of their hidden secrets. There is so much to see and learn in here that you could spend days trawling through it. AMAZING AND WELL DONE. This is close to genius

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NICKY BAY
Singapore

Hi my name is Nicky Bay. I am a macro photographer, instructor and book author, travelling the world to document the vast micro biodiversity that nature has to offer. Follow my updates and discover with me the incredible beauty and science behind our planet's micro creatures!

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