13-08-13 (caution : spider!)

[quester]

Caught this fellow this morning : Cerbalus aravensis, a species only discovered in the last few years, and apparently the largest huntspider in the Middle East. The span of its legs is around 14 cm. It is usually nocturnal, but might have had one too much the night before...
It was discovered during a survey performed while trying to save an area of sand dunes here that is marked for quarrying purposes.

 

[Orol]

A handsome fellow, really. After reading a few paragraphs over the web it seems it is not (much) poisonous?

Peter

 

[streetshooter]

Amazing.....great photo....

 

[Blow-in]

Nice shot and I hope it helps save the dunes. 5mm focal length - you got pretty close then! Another great example of what the PX can do on a good day.

Richard

 

[quester]

Thanks people!

Actually this specimen seems very brave : I walked behind him for about 5 minutes, then all of a sudden it sensed my presence, turned on its "heels", and started chasing me. As if I were half its height! Didn't matter where I turned, it would come after me, take a stand, and raise its front two legs in a display of aggression (as you can see in second photo from here).

Then the sun started to come up a bit (you can see the first rays in the photo), and this seemed to mesmerize the spider somewhat : it didn't move, and that's when I got close enough for the shot.

Not poisonous, but pretty daunting.

Part of the dunes are a declared conservation area, but there is still a section that is being coveted by the construction industry - and unfortunately it seems that they will win the day...

 

[ycp13]

Fxxx, quester, I know there was warning, but I`ve clicked :evil: . No sense to go to bed this night.

 

[Genster]

Wow, don't want to meet him :shock: