Journal

Huntsman Night

on
8 August 2012
Another walk into Bukit Timah led to the sighting of several Huntsman Spiders (Sparassidae). Sometimes known as giant crab spiders, these relatively large spiders are often in abundance in Singapore’s nature reserves.

For this shoot, I loaned a Nikkor 105mm F2.8 (non VR) from Nick to play with. Lighted with the camera’s onboard flash and diffused with my flimsy piece of wrapper foam as explained in my earlier blog post.

Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_2677#1 A relatively common Huntsman Spider that tends to close it’s legs up when at rest, resembling a hairy ball on a leaf

Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_2690#2 Closer look at the eyes

Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_2701#3 A green Huntsman Spider, sometimes mistaken to be a Clubionid from afar

Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_2708#4 This particular Huntsman Spider used to be classified as a Sac Spider (Clubionidae) but was moved to the Huntsman Spider family (Sparassidae). Now Thelcticopis sp.

Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_2709#5 Another view of the Thelcticopis sp.

Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_2745#6 Beautiful distinct patterns on this Huntsman Spider

Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_2753#7 Almost customary to get a shot of the eyes. Lovely face ya?

Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_2761#8 A juvenile Huntsman Spider, just over 1cm long including the legs

Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_2766#9 Another juvenile Huntsman Spider. The last leg has a different colour, probably because it had regrown from a recent moult.

Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_2767#10 Closer look at the carapace and abdomen

Huntsman Spider (Sparassidae) - DSC_2771#11 So many Huntsman Spiders on the forest floor!

Longhorn Beetle (Epepeotes luscus) - DSC_2651#12 There were other subjects as well. Used this Longhorn Beetle (Epepeotes luscus) to test my lighting.

Orb Weaver Spider (Eriovixia sp.) - DSC_2653#13 One of the many Orb Weaver Spiders (Eriovixia sp.) that I almost ran into

Tiger Beetle (Therates dimidiatus?) - DSC_2663#14 Cute little Tiger Beetle (Therates dimidiatus?) that allowed me to get close.. probably sleeping. 🙂

Scorpion - DSC_2703#15 Scorpions joined the night party as well

Copper-cheeked Frog (Hydrophylax raniceps) - DSC_2740#16 There were streams nearby, couldn’t leave the frogs alone!

Saint Andrew’s Cross Toadlet (Pelophryne signata) - DSC_2726#17 Saint Andrew’s Cross Toadlet (Pelophryne signata), small but beautiful little toad

Saint Andrew’s Cross Toadlet (Pelophryne signata) - DSC_2728#18 Top view of the toadlet

Deaf Leaf Mantis (Deroplatys sp.) - DSC_2720#19 Found this dead leaf mantis dancing for us

Deaf Leaf Mantis (Deroplatys sp.) - DSC_2722#20 Peering at the head!

Fishing Spider (Dolomedes sp.) - DSC_2730#21 Lots of Fishing Spiders (Dolomedes sp.) in the stream!

Fishing Spider (Dolomedes sp.) - DSC_2732#22 Side view. This spiders belong to the Nursery Web Spider family, Pisauridae

Fishing Spider (Dolomedes sp.) - DSC_2735#23 Front view reveals a lovely face 😛

Cryptothele sp. - DSC_2754#24 Finally, found a tiny little ground spider hiding in a crevice.. a Cryptothele sundaica? Melvyn called it the mud-mimic ground spider

Cryptothele sp. - DSC_2755#25 Didn’t stay long to let me get more shots!

The full album can be viewed here.
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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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