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Brown Huntsman Spider

Heteropoda cervina

Published on Project Noah
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14.5995, 120.984

Field Notes

Description:

This largish spider - approx. 4.5 cm (1.8 inches) in diameter - was feasting on what I think once was a mole cricket.

Habitat:

Hills overlooking Manila.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (13)

Hey Apple, I know the feeling - as an insect/nature lover + mild arachnophobic! I've already confessed this on Flickr & Facebook sites: I could take this photo lying on my daughter's bed, then holding my camera over the edge of the bed I had a pretty good view... without being too close physically... if you can picture that position, hahaha!
I wasn't sure if that was the right species..glad I could provide you with some possible resources to help you investigate. It is both a cool spotting and a creepy spotting. I have a love/hate relationship with spiders. I respect them greatly but also have arachnophobia.
Great shot Ann! Please consider adding this to the Hunters mission.
Possibly Heteropoda cervina http://eol.org/pages/1207335/overview
Per wikipedia: "Sparassidae are eight-eyed spiders. The eyes appear in two largely forward-facing rows of four on the anterior aspect of the prosoma. Many species grow very large – in Laos, Heteropoda maxima males attain a legspan of 250–300 mm (about 10–12 in). Persons unfamiliar with spider taxonomy commonly confuse large species with tarantulas, but huntsman spiders can generally be identified by their legs, which, rather than being jointed vertically relative to the body, are twisted in such a way that in some attitudes the legs extend forward in a crab-like fashion." Seems like your specimen... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntsman_spider
With that eye pattern it's most likely a huntsman...
4th photo added (sorry it's not quite in focus!) It looks he has 2 rows of 4 small eyes...
When identifying a possible wolf spider, the best way to identify is to have a clear picture of the eyes. Wolf spiders have 2 eyes larger than the rest.
I think its a Wolf spider.
Photographed
PublishedFebruary 3, 2012

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