Huntsman spider
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 Huntsman spider
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Delena |
Huntsman spider is a common name given to the family Sparassidae (formerly Heteropodidae). The larger specimens of these spiders are called Wood Spiders in most parts of Australia, due to their common preference for inhabiting woody places (forest, mine shafts, etc).
These eight-eyed spiders are found in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, Florida, and Hawaii, and possibly in many other tropical and semi-tropical regions. Very few spider species have a palearctic distribution.
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[edit] Appearance
While frequently very large – in Laos, Heteropoda maxima males can attain a legspan of 250–300 mm (9.8–11.8 in) – and a bit fearsome-looking, Huntsman spiders are not deadly to humans. They do bite if provoked, but the victim will suffer only minor swelling and localised pain, and will recover in a day or two. Some larger types resemble tarantulas, and may be mistaken for them, as the Huntsman is related (which is why the term "Australian tarantula" has sometimes been used to describe them by the Natural History Museum in Sydney). Huntsmen can generally be identified by their legs, which, rather than being jointed vertically relative to the body, are twisted such that the legs extend forward in a crab-like fashion.
Many Huntsman spiders are dull shades of brown or grey. Their legs are covered with fairly prominent spines, but the rest of their bodies appear smooth. They are frequently found in sheds, garages and other infrequently-disturbed places. The Banded Huntsman (Holconia) is larger and grey to brown with striped bands on its legs. The Badge Huntsman (Neosparassus) is larger still, and brown and hairy. Its bite will inflict the worst injury, and local swelling and pain may cause nausea, headache, vomiting and heart palpitations. The tropical or Brown Huntsman (Heteropoda) is also large and hairy, with mottled brown, white and black markings. The eyesight of these spiders is not nearly as good as that of the Salticidae (jumping spiders). Nevertheless, their vision is quite sufficient to detect approaching humans or other large animals from some distance.
[edit] Habitat and distribution
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Members of the Huntsman family of spiders are very common in Australia, but also in many tropical and semi-tropical parts of the world. They have been introduced to many parts of the world, including China, Japan and southern parts of America, 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.
As adults, Huntsman spiders do not build webs, but hunt and forage for food: their diet consists primarily of insects and other invertebrates. They live in the crevices of tree bark, but will frequently wander into homes and vehicles. They are able to travel extremely fast, 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.
[edit] Toxicity and aggression
In general, Huntsman spiders are not regarded as dangerous, and can be considered beneficial because they feed on insects. (Many Australians will relocate Huntsmen to the garden rather than kill them.) There have been reports of members of the genus Neosparassus (formerly called Olios) giving bites that have caused prolonged pain, inflammation, headache, vomiting and irregular pulse rate; however, a scientific study into the bite of these spiders did not note any severe or unusual symptoms resulting from confirmed Neosparassus bites [1]. It is unclear under what circumstances these spiders bite people, but it is known that female members of this family are quite brave in defending their egg sacs and their young.
[edit] Sound production in mating rituals
Males of Heteropoda venatoria, one of the Huntsman spiders that seems to easily find its way around the world, have recently been found to deliberately make a sound when they are given reason to believe that females of their species are nearby. Their method of making sounds is unlike methods already observed in other species of spiders. The males anchor themselves firmly to the surface onto which they have crawled and then use their legs to vibrate their entire bodies. It appears that most of the sound emitted is actually produced by the strong vibrations of the two rearmost pairs of legs. The characteristic frequency of vibration and the pattern of bursts of sound seem to identify them to females of their species, who will approach if they are interested in mating [2].
[edit] Gallery
[edit] Genus Heteropoda
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 Huntsman spider (Heteropoda venatoria) eating a cricket |
 The same spider is carrying an empty egg case. |
 Ventral aspect, showing epigynum and spinnerets. |
[edit] Genus Micrommata
 M. virescens |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Bayram, A. (2001): Micrommata virescens (Clerck, 1757), a New Species for the Spider Fauna of Turkey (Araneae, Sparassidae). Turk J Zool 26:305-307 PDF
[edit] External links
- Common Huntsman
- Fact sheet Museum Victoria
- University of Southern Queensland Sparassidae pictures & descriptions
- List of Sparassidae subfamilies and genera
- The 'Clock Spider,' a set of three images depicting a Huntsman Spider concealed behind a wall clock
- Pictures of Huntsman spiders in Japan
- Picture of Pandercetes gracilis (Lichen huntsman) from Australia
