Unidentified spider with damaged leg

Bruce Williams · #1 (**permalink**) 24-01-2009, 08:05 PM

Stony Stratford, bucks. Today (24th January 2009).

Was not expecting to see much so just had my Canon A650 in my pocket. In fact I'd have missed this little fellow if it hadn't have moved just as I walked past (I assume it's male?). Shame about the damaged leg - I assume it'll regenerate at the next molt?

Bruce

Dogghound · #2 (**permalink**) 24-01-2009, 08:12 PM

Amaurobius sp looks like A.similis yes its a male.

Bruce Williams · #3 (**permalink**) 24-01-2009, 11:06 PM

Thanks for your help Dan - appreciated as always

.

Interestingly this spider was standing on a small section of wall that had become very wet (as you can see in the photos). Most of the wall was dry (it was under cover) and while I watched, it moved into the dry area where I think it's small, untidy looking web was situated. I wondered why it was in the wet area in the first place - could it have been drinking do you think?

Bruce

Jason Green · #4 (**permalink**) 25-01-2009, 01:49 AM

Um... embarrasing if I'm wrong but aren't Amaurobius spp. nocturnal? If so, maybe they sometimes frequent cool, damp areas during the day in order to replicate night-time temperatures? Just a thought!

Yes, I do believe that it may re-generate at the next moult... I hope.

Action_Man · #5 (**permalink**) 25-01-2009, 12:42 PM

I dont think Amaurobius are nocturnal at all, there just as inactive during the night as they are through the day, sitting, waiting, for something to cross there tangled web, afaic anyway

...

Jason Green · #6 (**permalink**) 25-01-2009, 01:17 PM

Right, correct smillie -

I'm sure I read that somewhere... OK, thanks A_M!

Venger · #7 (**permalink**) 25-01-2009, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Action_Man

I dont think Amaurobius are nocturnal at all, there just as inactive during the night as they are through the day, sitting, waiting, for something to cross there tangled web, afaic anyway

...

They're nocturnal and diurnal, they just spin their webs at night - I don't think spiders sleep, well not in the way we do.
They just rest and wait,wait,wait......

Meta menardi · #8 (**permalink**) 25-01-2009, 04:49 PM

I am quite surprised to see a leg in that state. Spider legs work by the pressure of fluid extending and muscles working against the pressure bending the leg. Because of this, "punctures" in the legs mean the leg is a fluid loss to the spder, so they automatise damaged legs, closing off the leak.

I wonder if this is in fact a partially regenerated leg following a final moult to maturity.

Different spider and very different moulting patterns, but a Mygalomorpgh (Tarantula) that was given to my daughter which had a damaged back leg when she got it, regenerated a healthy leg when it moulted last year. My guess is that she lost the leg some time ago, and it gradually improved with each moult.