Ok. We need to talk about the media doing spiders dirty again. Strap in. We’re talking about these GIANT SPIDERS THAT ARE PARACHUTING IN & TAKING OVER THE USA!! *gasp*

Nonsense. Calm down. Here’s what’s up.🧵 Trichonephila clavata, one of several species commonly known as golden orb weavers, is a large species of orb weaving araneomorph spider originating from Japan, Korea, Taiwan & China. It is also known as the Joro spider & has actually been in the USA for nearly a decade already.

Recently @lunn_tamika posted a little bat friend that I fell in love with and decided I wanted to draw. I sketched it tod, only not on paper.
Drypoint etching on acrylic. I’m probably not going to print from this one. There are things I’d do differently before printing. Thanks for permission to use your photo as reference @lunn_tamika!

Finally! Back with another #ScienteaficABC 😁The next in my alphabetical journey through all 128 (currently, anyway) spider families is ANAPIDAE! This family of diminutive spiders contains 58 genera/231 species as of now. (images: Conoculus lyugadinus by Akio Tanikawa, CC) They occur worldwide, but mostly S. America, Africa, Asia & Australia/NZ. A few species are found in Europe and North America as well. (Image: Micropholcomma sp. by tjeales on iNat, CC)

Alright. I’m not gonna go on about how 2021 is gonna be amazing or whatever, but I am going to say this...

I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all of your support and encouragement throughout this hell year 2020. It may have been a devastating year for most of us, but the friendships I have formed with so many of you on here have honestly been instrumental in my successfully getting past some of the worst things I’ve faced in recent years. That will never be forgotten.

Today's #ScienteaficABC spider family is ANAMIDAE! A brand spanking new family, having only been elevated to full family status in this hell year 2020. Formerly, these spiders were a tribe, then a subfamily, of the family Nemesiidae. (Images: iNat Creative Commons) This family comprises 10 genera/104 species. These are mygalomorph spiders, an infraorder containing tarantulas, trapdoors, funnel webs, curtain webs & others characterised by their downward pointing chelicerae & fangs (& other things). (Chenistonia maculata by matthew_connors)

Bonus round! #ScienteaficABC. A small thread for this family AMMOXENIDAE! Why small? A few reasons. Firstly, it's a small family- 4 genera/18 species total, & secondly, they’re a specialised familiy so a broad summary should be pretty quick! (Images: Creative Commons, see end) Ammoxenidae are commonly known as termite hunters. They are found in Africa & Australia, living on sand dunes, savannahs & bushland in both arid & tropical areas. They actively hunt for termites & when they're not hunting, they dig themselves into the sand. (Img: iNat cecileroux)

Another #ScienteaficABC. AMAUROBIIDAE! This family comprises 49 genera & ~275 species & can be found mostly around the world save for large swathes of the African, Asian & Australian continents, the Arctic & Antarctica. (images Wikimedia Commons & my own). Amaurobiid spiders are generally quite rounded & velvety looking, not too vibrant or brightly coloured in most cases (though as you can see here, A. similis does try!), vary in size from 5-30+mm body length, & tend to inhabit cracks, crevices & other sheltered spots. (Pic: mine)

Next up in #ScienteaficABC, AGELENIDAE! This family comprises 87 genera, totalling 1307 species & has an almost cosmopolitan distribution making it a commonly encountered family. The pic shows a few examples of members & some common features. (Images: Wikimedia Commons & my own) Agelenid spiders vary quite a lot in appearance from genus to genus, but generally can be identified by eye arrangement (see my awful pic), web type/habitat & shape of cephalothorax... though, as always, there are some that do not fall in line with this which makes things fun 😂

Kicking off #ScienteaficABC, taking it from the top with Actinopodidae! This is a family of mygalomorph spiders (an infraorder of heavy bodied spiders with downward facing chelicerae), comprising just 3 genera- Actinopus, Missulena & Plesiolena. (All images: Wikimedia Commons). Actinopodidae can be found in Australia and Central & South America. They are considered medically significant, which means their venom is potentially dangerous. Overall, they are heavy set, impressive looking spiders, usually with a stocky legs, large chelicerae & fangs.

This is the entrance to my Theraphosa apophysis’ burrow. It’s gone to ground to moult. This species possesses the most irritating urticating setae (specialised itchy hairs used for defense against predators etc) of all known tarantulas. The spider has burrowed down in such a way that I have a window into its moult chamber. The whole thing is lined with silk, but most amazing of all is the protective measure it has taken to deter any would be attackers from disturbing it while it’s in its most vulnerable state.

Throwback to last May. I found these two Clubiona terrestris wandering about on a planter. I only had one vial to hand so I risked putting them both in it together just to get them inside. As soon as they met, one piled on the other & I thought that was it, game over... Then I saw that what I actually had was a male & female & he had pounced on her to mate with her. What was most remarkable about this was the total lack of any kind of courtship behaviour or caution in approaching her. He just got straight down to it as soon as he got a chance.

On the subject of my Patreon, I want to create a space where people can follow along with the myriad spider related projects I'm working on, research, husbandry notes, photos etc, but I also want to make it into a forum of sorts where people can feel free to ask me about stuff. I don't profess to be an expert in anything, but I have devoted a large chunk of my life to learning about the creatures I am so obviously utterly obsessed with. I want to share the things I have learned & continue to learn, and share the things I create too.

Illustrating a spider, step by step. I make no promises here... no idea how this will turn out but I’ll do my best to keep it going right the way through. I warn you, this might take a while so don’t expect it completed tonight 😂 This will be a thread. To start out, choose your materials. I work primarily with ink and watercolour, so am using watercolour paper. In this case, The Langton by @DalerRowney- 140lb cold pressed block. I will draw a grid, so I have my ruler and 0.5mm HB mechanical pencil.

As a lifelong dog owner, mostly of pedigree dogs, I have a lot of views on breeding of this nature, and indeed in general. This deliberate exaggeration of physical features that hinder a dog’s ability to lead a normal, happy, healthy life is nothing short of barbarism.

https://twitter.com/thatvetsean/status/1227184441115783175

Lawmakers and enforcement had no problem dictating to me that my rescue dog that I shared my life with in the USA was not permitted into the UK because of the DDA & her being a ‘pit bull’... which isn’t even a breed, more a description of physical traits, & possible parentage.