Punggol Waterway
North East, Singapore
01 May 2014
Labour Day was a day for spiders...
Oxyopidae (Lynx Spiders)
The family name, Oxyopidae, is derived from the Greek meaning sharp sighted with the colloquial name (lynx) refers to the catlike manner of prey capture. They are diurnal (active during the day) and arboreal (living on plants and trees) spiders usually found on shrubs, grasses and trees.
Oxyopids range from small to large spiders (5-25mm). Viewed head-on, the cephalic (head) area is high, with 6 of the 8 eyes arranged in a hexagonal formation with a large clypeus (area below eyes to the anterior edge of carapace). They use their excellent vision to pursue and pounce on prey.
The flexibility of the Oxyopes Birmanicus (Burmese Lynx) Spider's legs can be seen here
- waving a leg above its head, tilted upwards between two leaves, gripping a leaf upside down...
Phintella Vittata (Banded Phintella)
Males and females of the species Phintella Vittata are able to detect ultraviolet light from the so-called UVB band (315-280 nm) and have specialized surfaces on their bodies to reflect it. The reflection of UVB radiation by males during courtship has been shown to enhance their ability to attract females.
A very active and curious female jumping from leaf to leaf. See her luminous green palps?
Her shiny silver carapace reflects ultraviolet light...
Tetragnathidae (Big-Jawed Spider)
Tetragnathidae are long-legged, thin-bodied spiders. When at rest, they cling lengthwise along a twig or blade of grass, holding on with the short third pair of legs with the long pairs of legs are extended. These spiders typically live near water and around the banks of waterways (rivers, lakes, swamps), usually on low-hanging branches and reeds.
A dormant Tetragnathidae lies stationary against a twig in the late afternoon as it awaits nightfall...
From certain angles, the stance is similar to that of Thomsidae (crab spiders)
with the 2 elongated pairs of angled front legs...
Despite being orb weavers, Tetragnathidae are not usually found in their webs in the daytime. Nocturnal in lifestyle, they build or repair their webs only as night approaches...
