 |
| Image: wigzac via Flickr |
Arachnura higginsi is a small orb-weaver from Australia. She may be just 16 mm (0.63 in) long, but you won't forget her in a hurry; she looks extraordinary!
At the end of that crazy tail are all these little spikes and knobs. It's quite intimidating, looking like a tiny mace.
 |
| Image: teejaybee via Flickr |
 |
| Image: David Cook Wildlife Photography (kookr) via Flickr |
When disturbed she can in fact raise her tail over her head. I guess it's to scare stuff away by looking like it will sting. To me, the prospect of a zombie leaf is far more terrifying. I've been trying to eat my greens for years, the idea of all those carrots and lettuce leaves rising from the dead and baying for my blood is a shocking prospect.
 |
| Image: Robert Whyte www.arachne.org.au via Flickr A young, sub-adult Scorpion-tailed Spider |
The female's web has a V-shaped section missing from the top. When the time comes, she will fill it with a row of egg sacs made of brown, woolly silk. She may even cover them in debris for camouflage. That's one dirty and completely unused web!
 |
| Image: Robert Whyte www.arachne.org.au via Flickr Another youngster. Banana butt! |
One thing is for sure, though: I shall never eat another vegetable again! Or banana.
now, who couldn't love this guy?! :)
ReplyDeleteAgreed! I can't quite keep my eyes off her!
ReplyDeleteWe now need a scorpion-tailed spider-tailed viper.
ReplyDelete@Blake Schoeman: I don't think they're found in Australia and they don't seem to be any more venomous than any other harmless spider.
ReplyDelete@Bk Jeong: Yup. The world can always do with a few more chimaera!
We have a house in Great Brak and see a lot of them. Not sure if they are poisonous. Apparently there are things Google can't answer
ReplyDeleteI just found a Scorpion Tailed Spider in our back yard down here in Denmark WA. I have never see one befor and found the information on this blog. When disturbed it clings to its egg sack so closely you can hardly see it. I love seeing things like this along with the variety of different little critters in the bush.
ReplyDeleteThat's cool! I'd love to see what it looks like when you can hardly see it, that tail is eye-catching it's difficult to imagine!
ReplyDeleteJust found one in my front yard here in geelong Vic. Get lots of strange critters here but this is a first for me!
ReplyDeleteNice!
ReplyDeleteThey're in Australia but very rare in some parts of the country. I have lived here for 33 years and this is the first time I've seen one in my, i found it in laundry on my laundry basket
ReplyDeleteJust found one in vic, Crib Point to be exact.... Never seen one b4
ReplyDeleteI have a lemon tree on a Bush property near Margaret River in Western Australia. On the tree is a very large web full of these spiders. This is the first time I've seen them and had to Google to find out what they were. I'm looking forward to seeing the egg laying stage.
ReplyDeleteJust found one in my backyard garden!im in Bornholm, Western Australia, Never seen one before.. almost walked into it.. she's definitely holding onto her egg sacks tight, but so beautiful
ReplyDeleteSee them on and off in Camperdown South West Victoria. Have five right now. Waiting anxiously to see the babies appear. Haven't seen them for about five years.
ReplyDeleteFound one in my garden in Mount Hallen, Queensland. Incredible looking spider.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful spider. I live in Qld and have one about 3 ft away from me right now happily living in my garden
ReplyDelete