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|  » Stats |
Members: 50,173
Threads: 82,386
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Top Poster: glsammy (15,069)
| | Welcome to our newest member, shipin | |  | 
19-05-2011, 04:16 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2
| |  Only 4 legs ?
Hi There
Can anyone shed somelight on this pic please ? 
It was taken by my Fiancee today, she wanted to know why there was only 4 legs, My idea was legs missing after battle or accident !
Can anyone identify this spider for me ?
Thanks in advance.
Steve |
19-05-2011, 04:30 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 2,983
| |  Re: Only 4 legs ?
It would be very helpful if you could say what size it is, in what habitat it was found/near and what part of the country you are in.
The loss of legs is responsible for the low count. This early in the season, it has had a hard time. It appears to be a male, the feelery bits at the front have a swelling which the male uses to tranfer sperm to the female. 
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Genio Terrę Britannicę |
19-05-2011, 04:40 PM
|  | Dame Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Kent
Posts: 9,728
| | | Re: Only 4 legs ?
Hmm. Perhaps he got into a row with the wife! Perhaps she attempted to eat him!
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The female of the species is more deadly than the male.:p |
19-05-2011, 04:42 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Nottingham
Posts: 124
| | | Re: Only 4 legs ?
I think it's philodromus dispar. |
19-05-2011, 04:44 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Cheshire and North Wales
Posts: 1,125
| | | Re: Only 4 legs ?
Yes a rather battered male Philodromus dispar.
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Is man one of God's blunders? Or is God one of man's blunders?
Friedrich Nietzsche |
19-05-2011, 05:31 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 2
| | | Re: Only 4 legs ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Meta menardi  It would be very helpful if you could say what size it is, in what habitat it was found/near and what part of the country you are in.
The loss of legs is responsible for the low count. This early in the season, it has had a hard time. It appears to be a male, the feelery bits at the front have a swelling which the male uses to tranfer sperm to the female. | I guess I've got my answer ' Philodromus dispar ' But heres the details anyway.
It was about 9mm head to rear, it was on our back door frame, We are in merseyside and it was about 8:30am
Thanks for all your help.
Steve |
19-05-2011, 10:53 PM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: North Kent
Posts: 116
| | | Re: Only 4 legs ?
It is not uncommon to find spiders with missing legs. Seven is common; four is unusual. They have the ability to sacrifice a leg during moulting if it gets stuck, possibly because of prior damage. The leg regrows at the next moult, rather smaller than the others. Here is an example. 
In the case of your male Philodromus dispar, he has made his final moult so he will die before he can grow his leg back.
Robin | | |
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