Golden Orb Weaver Morph

Very similar to nephila pilipes, only darker reddish color with red legs. It still has the pilipe features of the two longitudinal stripes along the abdomen dorsal and the yellow spots behind the knees. <br><br>

The underside is lacking the array of spots that standard pilipes has. The yellow spots at the root of all the legs is vaguely visible, but a feint reddish color. The lateral stripe just in front of the epigynum is there, but again no longer yellow. The spinnerets on standard pilipes are red, but on this morph they are dark brown. <br><br>

On the top view, the lateral stripe at the front of the abdomen is still present and yellow, as are the two longitudinal yellow stripes. <br><br>

On the sides, the longitudinal striations of yellow dashes are missing, replaced by a reddish leathery striation look. <br><br>

At the front of the abdomen, just behind the carapace (thorax), like standard pilipes, there is a lateral stripe, yellow in color on both versions. On this morph however, the stripe extends around the sides for a short distance. This exists on standard pilipes, but is less obvious and forms part of the longitudinal striations mentioned above. <br><br>

On the carapace, the standard pilipes is covered in a golden stubble. This stubble is present on the morph, but on this specimen looks rather worn away. <br><br>

Images 4, 5 and 6 are of a second spider just a few feet away. Obviously the same species, but very slight variations and very relevant to this spotting. <br><br>

Because of the many similarities with standard pilipes, I have decided to label this specimen as pilipes, but it is up for discussion.