A new species of golden orb spider has been found in South Africa. It is the biggest spider ever found that spins a web -and what a web it is!
Nephila Komaci has a limited range and is believed to be an endangered species. Link -via Unique Daily
The female of the new species of golden orb weaver spider has a body one and a half inches long with a leg span of five inches and weaves a web more than three feet wide.
The tiny male, however, has a leg span of just one inch. The variation of the Nephila species, named as Nephila Komaci, was discovered by US and Slovenian researchers in Africa and Madagascar
Nephila Komaci has a limited range and is believed to be an endangered species. Link -via Unique Daily
It was in the state of Rio de Janeiro...To the south and on an Island. web was at LEAST 5' across and maybe 2.6' high - a bird wouldve easily been caught in it.
the spider was sitting dead center just like any web spider might...only this one was roughly 12" across legspan - conservatively!
I seriously think i ran across the largest webspider in the world - based on where i saw it, it makes sense that no one has ever observed it. i'd love to chat with a spider expert about it...
contact me
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nephila_clavipes_perspective.JPG