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Giant Water Spider
Megadolomedes trux, family Pisauridae
Identification
One of the largest hunting spiders found near water. Tips (tarsi) of the legs highly flexible. Length: Including legs, greater than large man's hand span. Colour: grey to fawn brown with highly variable pattern; either long median band or generally mottled.
Distribution
Eastern Australia near slow moving freshwater stream and river edges.
Web
Large nursery built only for eggs, constricted high in vegetation beside streams.
Bite
Not known. Venom: unknown but effective on small vertebrates so potentially of concern to humans.
Notes
Magnificent water spiders that quietly scull on the water surface hunting for insects on the water and fish or frogs below it. The spiders can quickly dive through the surface layer, swim through the water and climb to roots on the bottom for sometime.
Generally gentle.
Their eyes reflect torch light at night.
Main prey: insects and vertebrates including fish, frogs, and probably small toads.
Similar species
Water spiders which are much smaller and do not have the flexible leg tips.
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