Project Noah is a tool to explore and document wildlife and a platform to harness the power of citizen scientists everywhere.
Project Noah is a tool to explore and document wildlife and a platform to harness the power of citizen scientists everywhere.
Nephila clavipes
They are also called giant wood spiders, banana spiders or Writing Spiders. I have posted similar sightings of the Golden Orb Weaver but this particular spotting really stunned me. In the past year , i have only spotted them on the Highlands at an altitude of more then 800 meters above sea level, in Malaysia. Another member in Project Noah from Malaysia, also spotted one on the Highlands. I have also seen some other postings of the subject from the south America .Now i am convinced that they could be sighted and found on the Lowlands in Malaysia .
The route which i normally take each morning to do my leg exercises is so mapped in my mind that i know exactly what lies under a leaf , over a leaf or flying around. This Orb really ...really... stunned me for it was just hanging there about 10 inches above anyone's head, who passes underneath the web.It wasn't there all these while ..and i mean ..years of walking there and i was just there 2 days ago.
Lat: 3.16, Long: 101.70
Spotted on May 15, 2012
Submitted on May 15, 2012
9 Comments
Hi RolandEGauthier. Sorry for the late reply. Sandakan, as in the State of Sabah, Malaysia? You mentioned hill side in your comment and the jungle as its habitat. Well it tallys with the similar terrain that i spotted this beauty in the Highlands here in Malaysia too.Poisonous is a good question . A pair of them and the Male was aggresive as i approached it within 3 feet. I have seen a small bird caught on its massive web and other large insects as prey.I saw a posting somewhere and this man had the Orb Weaver in the palms of his hands.
I spotted a similar spider in Sandakan, Malaysia on a jungle hill side, look at my spottings and you will see mine....very creepy thing but also nice..lol are they poison?
I just saw that bit of info by chance while searching for info.
Cameron Highlands, in Malaysia was where all the good sightings of the Golden Orb weavers were.There were large adults with a pair hanging in there and my guide and adopted children from the Semai tribe showed me the large web , spanning about almost 15 feet from tree to tree and there were carcasses of a bird and a large gecko on it.
My last sighting of the Golden orb weaver was about 2 months ago up on Fraser's hill, Malaysia.Spotted them mostly at the old abandoned British colonial houses and an old mine.
This Orb measures maybe 5inches on the leg span .
Fantástica!!
Hi Johanheyns. Interesting is my answer too. maybe you could see the earlier posting of mine which shows a pair. maybe you could find out more of the pigmentation or colors of the Female and the Male. I only find out which of them was the Male , when i got too close with the camera and it got into a position to spring , like it was protecting the female. This was on a location going up the Highland at an altitude of maybe 400 meters above sea level.
Colouring of Orb Web Spiders: Interesting
The waste substances are chemically converted to harmless crystals and are stored in special cells. These white colored guanocytes are located in-groups and can be seen through the skin. This shows up as a very special pattern on the back of the orb weaving spiders.
http://ednieuw.home.xs4all.nl/Spiders/In......