The Giant Tasmanian Cave Spider
The Giant Tasmanian Cave Spider (Hickmania troglodytes) was first recorded in the limestone caves at Mole Creek, Tasmania, in 1883. It is endemic to Tasmania but is widely distributed throughout the state. Despite it’s common name it is not confined to caves. Any cool cavity large enough to support it’s extensive web may be used. They have even been found under bridges and in large hollow logs. I have seen them in several places including Gunns Plains Cave and in a mine adit near Montezuma falls which is where the following photographs were taken.
The females body length can be up to 20mm and the males 13mm. However the leg span can be up to 180mm (7 inches). They build a large horizontal sheet like web on the roof of the cave or cavity. One web was recorded to be 122 cm long by 61cm wide. The large pear shaped egg-sac is about 49mm long by 26mm wide. When in caves it is left undecorated as seen in my photo below. However if the spider is, for example, in a hollow log, it will cover the egg-sac in small particles of wood and debris. Spiderlings emerge from the sacs after 8-10 months. This spider is also noted for it’s long lifespan, possibly lasting several decades.
Finally, here is a photo of the mine adit where these photos were taken. It's pitch black in there. I just had a small torch and the flash on my camera. It's a little bit disconcerting when you first point the torch upwards and realise there are dozens of these Cave Spiders all around you.
Sunshine on Water Misty Waterfall Camouflaged Beach Spiders Wandle Falls - On the Edge of the Tarkine Wilderness |
Congratulations @mostly.nature! You have completed some achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
Click on any badge to view your own Board of Honor on SteemitBoard.
For more information about SteemitBoard, click here
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPBeautiful photos! Thank you @mostly.nature for sharing!
Thank you, glad you liked them.