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Huntsman spider

Family : Sparassidae

Description:

Sparassidae is a family of spiders known as huntsman spiders because of their speed and mode of hunting. They also are called giant crab spiders because of their size and appearance. Larger species sometimes are referred to as wood spiders, because of their preference for woody places (forest, mine shafts, woodpiles, wooden shacks). Sparassids 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.

Habitat:

Seen at a small forest near a river.

Notes:

Better quality pic at : https://www.flickr.com/photos/satyenmeht...

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Wild Things
Spotted by
Wild Things

Maharashtra, India

Spotted on Jan 18, 2015
Submitted on Jun 8, 2015

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