A different kind of spider

Feeds:: Posts; Comments

A different kind of spider

May 17, 2014 by Mike Powell

When you think of a spider, what kind of body do you imagine? I realize that most people don’t even want to think about spiders—they find them to be creepy and frightening. For some of us, though, spiders are beautiful creatures with some amazing features.

Still, I don’t usually think of a spider as having a long, thin body, and most don’t. Last week I encountered one that had such a body, which I think is a kind of long-jawed spider from the Tetragnathidae family. In addition to the elongated bodies, these spiders have legs of varying lengths, with the front pair appearing to be really long.

Spiders apparently come in all sizes and shapes. Who knows what new ones I’ll see in the coming months?

Posted in Arachnids, Macro Photography, Nature, Photography, spring | Tagged Alexandria VA, Canon 50D, family Tetragnathidae, Huntley Meadows Park, Long-jawed Orb Weaver, Long-jawed Orb Weaver spider, long-jawed spider, spider, Tamron 180mm macro lens | 10 Comments

10 Responses

on May 17, 2014 at 8:03 am | Reply Sue

I wonder if this spider is trying to mimic a stick with that elongate body and legs? Nice macros!
- on May 17, 2014 at 8:06 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Sue. The spider was hanging in midair, so I was able to photograph it without going through my usual gyrations. I can’t figure out why some variations exist in shape and coloration, but your theory makes a lot of sense to me.
on May 17, 2014 at 9:09 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

Interesting. I thought all spiders were roundish.
- on May 17, 2014 at 9:11 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I’m hoping to come across one of these with a completed web to see if the elongated body shape affects the shape of the web.
on May 17, 2014 at 11:35 am | Reply waltersanford

I suggest you post one of your better photos in the BugGuide Facebook group and ask for help ID-ing the spider — works every time for me!
on May 17, 2014 at 2:08 pm | Reply krikitarts

I’m quite sure your tentative ID is right on, Mike. It amazes me that they are actually orb-weavers. One would think the long legs might be a disadvantage to ideal foot placement on the web, but apparently not. Another natural wonder.
on May 17, 2014 at 4:35 pm | Reply Lyle Krahn

The diversity of the animal world never ceases to amaze me.
on May 18, 2014 at 2:54 am | Reply caleephotography

As you know, I’m one of those who try not to think about spiders.. But I still enjoy these shots, it’s really amazing how animals adapt to nature. I wonder what made this spider develop such a shape?
on May 18, 2014 at 6:59 am | Reply dianaed2013

Your amazing work always stands out
- on May 18, 2014 at 7:23 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks for your words of encouragement. As I shoot more, I seem to encounter more amazing subjects to photograph.