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Comments & ID Thoughts
Found in a small srub/tree in a large pot, in this shrub/tree it was in its web which extended to another nearby tree. It is roughly 10 to 15 cm from the tip of its hind legs to the tip of its back legs. I am a high school student and this this scares me so much I threw small twigs at it to make it leave, it now recognises me and hides when I pass by,hope all this helps.
- Submitted by:
- Submitted: Jan 18, 2024
- Photographed: Jan 18, 2024
- Spider: Euprosthenops australis (Golden Funnelwebber)
- Location: Windhoek, Namibia
- Spotted Outdoors: Man-made structure (building wall, fences, etc.),Low foliage (shrubs, herbs, garden, excluding flowers),High foliage (includes trees and tree trunks)
- Found in web?: Yes
- Attributes:
You poor thing. You took a perfect photo of it which makes it easier to identify. He or She is big but is nothing to be afraid of. It belongs to my favourite spider family…the nursery web spiders….I only found out about this special African species a few weeks ago. Unlike their cousins in Europe and America..who are free living hunters…. they build webs…I am almost certain it is this one… Euprosthenops Australis aka Golden Funnelwebbers like all nursery web spiders they take really good care of their young. When they lay eggs they carry the large round egg sac… Read more »
Certainly in that large group of spiders you need not fear in the slightest.
I would have thought these are similar to Trichonephila. Gold silk orb weaver.
So gentle, they let children handle them at bug fairs.
So this is a new one for my book.
They are beauties aren’t they. I never knew they existed till a week or 2 ago.
You added a species sighting to our website!