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| Here's some photos of a spider send in by Jon Triffo,
all the way from Saskatchewan in Canada. Here's Jon's email and his
photos. We have identified it
as the Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria fera). These
spiders are extremely fast, extremely venomous, and extremely aggressive
and are ranked among the most venomous spiders known to man. In fact,
the Brazilian Wandering Spider is the most venomous spider in the New
World! In South America, these true spiders are commonly encountered in
peoples' homes, supposedly hiding in peoples' shoes, hats, and other
clothes. It does not remain on a web, rather, it wanders the forest
floor, which is how it got its name. The Brazilian Wandering Spider has
another name - the Banana Spider and it was given this name
because there have been cases where these spiders unintentionally
appeared on banana boats heading for the United States.
Click here for more info and a picture. |
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"I am a wildlife and socioecological photographer
and I am currently digitizing images for the Interactive Learning
Centre (ILC) in the New Life Sciences Gallery at the Royal
Saskatchewan Museum (RSM). I recently had an opportunity to
photograph a large tropical spider that was donated to the RSM after
it was found in a shipment of bananas at a local grocery store. The
donor, not wanting to identify the store and possibly alarm its
customers, did not provide any information about where the bananas
and the spider came from.
Would your school be interested in helping us identify this amazing
creature? I would be happy to send you some photos of it via e-mail.
You are welcome to use them for educational purposes if you wish,
and I invite you to visit "TriffoPhoto" at <jon-triffo.tripod.com>
and "Triffo Gallery" at <falcon.unibase.com>,
the Regina Peregrine Falcon Project web site. " |
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| "This spider is a bit more than an inch in body
length, and about three inches in front to back leg length when at rest.
We suspect that it is a Wandering Ctenidae, perhaps Phoneutria fera from
South Brasil, or something similar. I've attached a drawing of its face
and carapace in JPG format." |
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Here's the drawing Jon
attached.
"The Royal Saskatchewan Museum is developing a tropical
exhibit based on research done in Costa Rica. Although we are
highlighting Neotropical Passerines that breed in our province
and over winter in tropical rainforests, our spider, sadly now
deceased but preserved, may prove to be very useful if we can
identify it with greater certainty.
If nothing else, I would like to add a photo of it to
the Brasil Gallery in my Tripod Site." |
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"For interested students and spider sleuths, the
fact that our specimen arrived in Canada in a shipment of bananas is
a good clue.
An experienced spider sleuth may see other clues that could
narrow the field of possibilities. (Apparently, there are more than
400 species of Ctenidae!)
The so called "Wandering Spiders" are fascinating to learn about.
They tend to be diurnal hunters." |
"Some are highly venomous, and some are well known for occurring
in banana shipments throughout the world. Admittedly, I choose my
bananas with greater care when I go shopping now!" |
| "I would be honoured if you posted any of these
pictures on your spider page. You have my expressed written consent
to use them in any non commercial way you please.
Also, I'll be happy to send you other interesting arachnid
pics as I find or acquire them. (I think I have some scanned photos
of a wonderful little Pseudoscorpion. I'll send some along when I
find them.)" |
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"I hope to hear from you again.
Cheers from chilly, snow-covered Saskatchewan! (Where are those
Dwarf Spiders, anyway?? Perhaps they are camera shy!)
Jon Triffo" |
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Photos copyright ŠJon Triffo, 2000
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