For #Arachtober - this stunning 'ground' sac #spider (cf. Gnaphosidae Genus indet sp. indet) found on the trunk of a toddy palm, at #powai, #mumbai (13th. AUG 2023 17:21 hrs.)
The Mumbai region is home to several #species many of which still remain undiscovered, and are likely new to #science.
Sitting calmly in their webs, many spiders wait for prey to come to them. Arachnids along lakes and rivers eat aquatic insects, such as dragonflies. But, when these insects live in mercury-contaminated waterways, they can pass the metal along to the spiders that feed on them.
Tom Hardy and his Marvel character Venom have given their names to a newly-discovered Australian spider. The genus Venomius and its only current species Venomius tomhardyi were described following an expedition to Tasmania.
Not sure what to hashtag with this question, but is there anyone out there who knows anything about #spiders / #arachnids#arachnology? This guy has been in my yard for a couple of days and I was curious what it is, and if my dog and I should keep our distance.
A delightful Peckhamia paper on ant-mimic jumping spiders on castor plants across India, from Uttarakhand to Tamil Nadu. Some were seen feeding from castor extrafloral nectaries! https://peckhamia.com/peckhamia/PECKHAMIA_297.1.pdf
Some spiders can transfer mercury contamination to land animals, study shows (phys.org)
Sitting calmly in their webs, many spiders wait for prey to come to them. Arachnids along lakes and rivers eat aquatic insects, such as dragonflies. But, when these insects live in mercury-contaminated waterways, they can pass the metal along to the spiders that feed on them.
The Venom spider: New genus named after Marvel character (phys.org)
Tom Hardy and his Marvel character Venom have given their names to a newly-discovered Australian spider. The genus Venomius and its only current species Venomius tomhardyi were described following an expedition to Tasmania.