Interesting Spider

[Shannon Graham]

I ran into this spider just outside of Austin a couple of weeks ago. I've never seen one like it before. Any ideas as to what it's called? It had a web between the cedar trees.

There's no scale in the image but it was fairly large....about twice as large as a sliver dollar. The interesting thing is that it was colored like a mossy/lichen piece of limestone rock that is common in the area.







Shannon

[Shannon Graham]

One more angle to show the two raised sections on the Abdomen. I didn't realize at the time how much the abdomen resembles a giant insect/ant's head. The raised sections look like eyes. Also in the direct sun, it appeared more gray like the rocks in the area. The flash really brings out the green.



Shannon

[manoman]

Shannon, that's a pretty knarly spider! I am glad you didn't walk throught it's web! I don't know...spiders sometimes can be rare or at least scarce enough to warrant further research. I'm thinking it falls into the garden spider class because of how it place the web. Maybe someone out there knows a thing or two.

[Shannon Graham]

Thanks Manoman. The more I look at it, I think it's amazing how much the abdomen resembles an ant's head. Look at the third picture...the markings look like eyes and well defined jaws.

Shannon

[BLIND PIG]

Shannon,

How about a giant lichen orb weaver.

Bill

[Shannon Graham]

Thanks Bill. You nailed it. Giant Lichen Orb Weaver it is. At least I had the 'lichen' correct.

Talk to you soon.

Shannon

[manoman]

Gad Zook, what a ghastly creature! I cannot get past those slathering, gnashing mandibles! I wonder if it bites? Shannon, in the name of science, you should go back and see if it bites.

[highsierra]

Orb weavers are totally harmless, despite their sometimes garish appearance. Those are fairly common in the mountainous regions around here. I like the big Goldens in our yard.

[DesertWalker]

We used to call them "Cat Face" spiders, when I was a kid. We would catch them, put em in a jar and feed em bugs.

[silver lake]

That sucker looks like it could carry away small children!