Some rather fetching spiders photographed by Thomas Shahan.
Above: The anterior median eyes of an adult female Paraphidippus aurantius, seen here enjoying lunch.
Here’s an adult male Hentzia mitrata, with video.
Here’s a Phidippus audax of indeterminate gender.
And here’s an adult male Paraphidippus aurantius, prior to encountering a larger female and coming to a sticky end.
There’s more. Lots more.
Wow. The hair is amazing too. Do they use product?
Posted by: carbon based lifeform | January 28, 2010 at 09:42
Fantastic.
Posted by: John D | January 28, 2010 at 10:23
Brilliant photos. Can spiders move their eyes?
Posted by: Anna | January 28, 2010 at 10:47
The jumping spiders, like those above, tend to have very good vision, at least by spider standards. Some species have fixed lenses and mobile retinas. Some have colour vision and can see ultraviolet wavelengths too.
There’s a summary of jumping spider vision here:
http://tolweb.org/accessory/Jumping_Spider_Vision?acc_id=1946
And here:
“The spider first senses movement of distant prey with the side eyes (PLE), which provide a blurry wide-angle image. Once movement is detected, the spider turns in that direction and locks onto the moving prey with the large, middle front eyes (AME). These eyes provide a clear, focussed telephoto image, probably in colour. The spider can track moving prey both by body movements and by using muscles to internally swivel the elongated eye capsules so that the light sensitive retina of each eye remains locked on the prey. While the spider stalks closer, it uses the side front eyes (ALE) to judge the distance to the prey. When it judges the prey to be close enough (about 2 cm - 3 cm), the spider leaps.”
http://australianmuseum.net.au/How-spiders-see-the-world
Posted by: David | January 28, 2010 at 11:01
"The jumping spiders, like those above, tend to have very good vision, at least by spider standards. Some species have fixed lenses and mobile retinas. Some have colour vision and can see ultraviolet wavelengths too."
Ah yes, spidey senses.
Posted by: Horace Dunn | January 28, 2010 at 11:26
But do they feel the tingling?
http://goatmilk.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/freespidey2sense2.jpg
Posted by: John D | January 28, 2010 at 11:30
Thanks, David.
Posted by: Anna | January 28, 2010 at 11:32
Photo #3 makes me think of baby hair. Not MY baby's hair, obviously.
Posted by: ojo | January 28, 2010 at 14:32
"Disappoinment for Penelope Cruz as New Eyes Of Revlon announced."
Posted by: Dave H. | January 28, 2010 at 15:06
These pictures, while beautiful, contain spiders, and as such, the mere sight of them would kill my wife.
Sending her the link now.
Anyone have a couch I can sleep on tonight?
Posted by: Chris S | January 28, 2010 at 16:00
Chris S,
Make sure you tell her they jump.
Posted by: Anna | January 28, 2010 at 16:20
Jumping, not jumping, 1 cm across, 10 cm across, it doesn't really matter. Spiders = terror. I could tell her that these are simply CGI creations and are not real, or I could tell her they have wings and are actually about a foot in diameter, but it wouldn't make any difference. Spiders are spiders.
It's like being bitten in the unmentionables by a snake. At that moment, while it's dangling there with jaws clamped about your bits, does it really matter if it's poisonous or not?
Posted by: Chris S | January 28, 2010 at 17:39
Oh, pretty!
And I'm a bit of an arachnophobe if they are too long, spindly legged, but the exsteme close-up and the vivid colours help with that...
Posted by: JuliaM | January 28, 2010 at 18:24
They're beautiful. Here's another looker...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/opoterser/3634381424/sizes/o/
Posted by: sk60 | January 28, 2010 at 18:42
“Spiders = terror.”
Maybe it’s partly because when they move they look vaguely like hands. Hands with lots of eyes and large venomous fangs.
Posted by: David | January 28, 2010 at 19:00
"Enjoying lunch"
The eyes are bigger than the belly...
Posted by: Mary Jackson | January 29, 2010 at 00:41
"Maybe it’s partly because when they move they look vaguely like hands."
I think it's more because the look like spiders.
Posted by: Twistyspinster | January 29, 2010 at 01:14
I was bit by an arachnophobe once, and it scarred me for life. If I discover one in my apartment, I'm reduced to screaming wildly and using a broom to push them out.
Nice pictures, though.
-S
Posted by: Simen Thoresen | January 29, 2010 at 04:52
I think I just shit myself ...
Posted by: sackcloth and ashes | January 29, 2010 at 15:20
Amazing photography, this takes a lot of work and patience.
As an attestation to the visual acuity of the jumping spider, I once observed a jumping spider react to a small (1") movement of my index finger at a distance of well over five feet.
S, thank you for alerting me to the existence of arachnophobic vampires. Have you looked into the possibility of reducing the scars with plastic surgery?
Posted by: NoelArmourson | February 04, 2010 at 07:06
these spiders are beautiful! but I'm frightened!
Posted by: pleasure women | May 03, 2010 at 17:53