Punggol Park Connector
North-East, Singapore
October 2012
Cloudy
This Neoscona Punctigera (Ghost Spider) was spotted stationary on a leaf along the Punggol Park Connector. Belonging to the Orb-Weaver (Araneidae) family, it is from the Neoscona genus which has a characteristic longitudinal groove on the carapace which separates all species of Neoscona from species of Araneus (Wikipedia 2012).
Merlion Wayfarer has no idea why this spider has such an Halloween-themed name, but here are some clues:
Being a nocturnal predator, it constructs its web at night, shortly after sunset and removes the web next morning. During the day, it hides among the leaves. When at rest, it assumes a shape that looks like a monkey and that's why it is also known as "monkey spider". Hmm...
- For a start, it definitely does not look like a spider, especially with its bent-legged yoga pose.The carapace is M-shaped; It looks like two coconut husks joined together.
- There are spots on its back which glow in the dark.
- The black bands on its legs reflect light too.
- Its deceptive colour signalling and body spot colouration visually lures prey.
- It is a nocturnal sit-and-wait predator.
- The spider is so full of "spikes" that it looks like a chestnut.
(Source : tokorozawadailyphoto)
Being a nocturnal predator, it constructs its web at night, shortly after sunset and removes the web next morning. During the day, it hides among the leaves. When at rest, it assumes a shape that looks like a monkey and that's why it is also known as "monkey spider". Hmm...
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(Source : Wellington Zoo)
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(Source : Merlion Wayfarer Goes Green)
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The full albums are available at:
Sources
- "Body spot coloration of a nocturnal sit-and-wait predator visually lures prey" by Blamires, Sean J.; Lai, Cheng-Hui2; Cheng, Ren-Chung3; Liao, Chen-Pan1; Shen, Pao-Sheng1; Tso, I-Min. Behavioral Ecology, Volume 23, issue 1 (2012), p. 69-74. ISSN: 1045-2249 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arr152. Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://journals.ohiolink.edu/ejc/article.cgi?issn=10452249&issue=v23i0001&article=69_bscoanspvlp.
- "Deceptive color signaling in the night: a nocturnal predator attracts prey with visual lures" by Chuang, Chih-Yuan; Yang, En-Cheng; Tso, I-Min. Behavioral Ecology, Volume 19, issue 2 (2008), p. 237-244. ISSN: 1045-2249 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arm106. Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://journals.ohiolink.edu/ejc/article.cgi?issn=10452249&issue=v19i0002&article=237_dcsitnpapwvl.
- "Ghost Spider (Neoscona punctigera)". PK Photography (09 April 2011). Retrieved from http://pk-photography.blogspot.sg/2011/04/ghost-spider-neoscona-punctigera.html.
- "Neoscona". NatureLoveYou.sg (28 October 2012). Retrieved from http://www.natureloveyou.sg/Minibeast-Spider/Neoscona%20punctigera/Main.html.
- "Neoscona". Wikipedia (28 October 2012). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoscona.
