Twisted Anatomy Spider
Size about 7mm. This is probably Cyclosa insulana or a related species. This complex seems to be under investigation and clarification. Frankly, it was one of the weirder spider finds. I noticed a small, round web. I could not see a spider, just what I thought was stabilmentum. It was a single trail of debris on the web. On closer inspection of its end, I noticed some colourful, shiny part that could have been some spider remains, followed by some hairy bits. I could not be sure what it was and I didn't have the camera lens extenders on that would allow enough magnification to see. Wind made my attempts to photograph this animal quite difficult. Still not sure if it was a spider, let alone a living one, I decided to take a little twig and carefully touch the structure. When I did, the colourful hull and hair moved away very quickly, but rested after a few centimetres. The hair were obviously legs, but it is still not clear where they are attached. The spider went back to its debris end position. Strangely enough, its abdomen seemed separated from its thorax and head. It was also twisted in relation to its head, in about a 20 degree angle. The anatomy simply didn't make any sense. The photos would not clarify. The abdomen has two lateral bumps and a beautiful black, silvery pattern with some red in it. I repeated the disturbing practice later (sorry!) and the animal behaviour was identical. The animal even rested at the exact same spot, did not venture away and returned when it felt undisturb again. In one photo, I think I can see the eyes. But I doubt that this animal ever shows as nicely as some documentation from specimens photographed in ethanol make it look like. In full knowledge that this might have been a new spider, I would not even show it to my partner. As beautiful as the animal is, as fascinating its behaviour, I assume anyone but spider enthusiasts can really appreciate it. I love the web that is quite special, with the usual trapezoid segments turning into squares, pentagons, and hexagons in the very middle. And that is actually, where the spider normally sits. Update 15/4/2017: Yesterday, I managed to photograph this species while it was not windy. The specimen photographed may have been a bit larger, too. Update 6/5/2017: At the same place, I found several spiders that might be this species. They were much larger and colouration looks a bit different, too. Update 24/6/2017: Yesterday, I found various specimens of this group. Their colouration varied quite a bit, and most of them were very large. I also observed one spider consume a tiny fly stuck in the web. The spider grabbed it quickly with its jaws, returned back to the middle of the web. The prey was eaten head first. The spider seemed to vomit a black granulate ball. In the end, both the orange fly and the black stuff was gone.
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