Page 1 of 1

Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PLEASE

Posted: February 21st, 2013, 6:25 pm
by Hans Breuer (twoton)
(Disclaimer: Yes, there's an invertebrate forum. But for ID reasons, I wanted to reach as many people as possible. Thanks in advance for being gentle)

If I hadn't bumped my face into this inch-long beast when I walked along the trail above which it was hanging, I doubt I'd ever found one in a million years. Even in the small, leaf litter-filled terrarium where I kept it until the photoshoot, it would have been almost impossible to find. Luckily, it had a habit of hanging suspended and curled up from the tank lid. Note the perfectly emulated bumps and knobs on the "tail". Every time I look at these pictures, a huge, bright neon sign saying WTFFFF??? flashes in my brain...

Now.....what species is this? I don't think it's a scorpion-tailed spider. I found it in a lowland forest park in the city of Kuching, Southwest Sarawak.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: It seems to be a Tree Stump Orb Weaver (Heurodes porculus). Why would anyone call a spider "Little Pig"??

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 21st, 2013, 9:10 pm
by The Real Snake Man
WOW. That may be the most amazing spider I've ever seen. I am, however, sorry to report that I am probably more clueless as to its identity than anyone else on this forum. But it's an incredible animal!

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 21st, 2013, 9:51 pm
by John Martin
^^^ What he said! :D Nice one Hans, that is extra cool...

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 21st, 2013, 10:49 pm
by Hans Breuer (twoton)
Thanks for the kind words! It's a Tree Stump Orb Weaver (Heurodes porculus)

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 21st, 2013, 11:29 pm
by Rags
'Borneo - Home of the Weird'

Nice find Hans.

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 21st, 2013, 11:33 pm
by Hans Breuer (twoton)
Rags wrote:'Borneo - Home of the Weird'
That's why I live here :-)

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 21st, 2013, 11:38 pm
by Ruxs
Orb Weavers have taken it too far this time...

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 21st, 2013, 11:41 pm
by Hans Breuer (twoton)
Ruxs wrote:Orb Weavers have taken it too far this time...
LOL!

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 22nd, 2013, 6:42 am
by walk-about
That is an amazing little arachnid. WOW! Neat post for sure.

RocK ON!

Dave

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 22nd, 2013, 9:25 am
by Tom
Spectacular Hans. :beer:

This is a find from my trip to Borneo in 2009. Found in Sabah, a little way from Kota Kinabalu. It appears to be a species of Arachnura or Poltys (that was the genus last time I looked), but I've never been able to pin the species down, nor seen a photo of anything truly similar - any chance you could ask the same guy who identified yours?!

I really wish I'd brought it back with me in alcohol. :cry:


Image


Image

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 22nd, 2013, 10:14 am
by Hans Breuer (twoton)
I'm on it, Tom!

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 22nd, 2013, 2:36 pm
by Berkeley Boone
Yall need to quit photoshoppin' these 'spiders' and making them up!

For real though, those are INSANE looking! Aweosme pictures, both Hans and Tom!
--Berkeley

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 22nd, 2013, 11:02 pm
by moloch
Wow, Hans, that was the most bizarre spider that I have ever seen in a photo! What an incredible creature. You certainly do live in a wonderful place.

Regards,
David

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 23rd, 2013, 2:35 am
by krisbell
Woah!!! Has he sequestered a piece of dried up leaf/twig or has it actually dedicated over half its body mass to mimicry?! Incredible.

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 23rd, 2013, 8:15 am
by Hans Breuer (twoton)
krisbell wrote:Woah!!! Has he sequestered a piece of dried up leaf/twig or has it actually dedicated over half its body mass to mimicry?!.
The latter. I"ll put it back in the forest tomorrow, in a place where it can make a nice web, in the hope I'll be able to find it again at will....

Next up: photos of a leaf-mimicking katydid the size of a small rat...roadcruised tonight.

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 26th, 2013, 6:04 am
by Hans Breuer (twoton)
As promised: the next Monster Bug.

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 27th, 2013, 1:24 am
by Robyn@TRR
That is friggin amazing.

Re: Borneo Dispatches #65: IMS (Insane Mimicry Spider) ID PL

Posted: February 27th, 2013, 11:28 am
by Zach_Lim
More reasons why spiders are vile and nasty creatures haha! Nature's tricksters!