Giant armored trapdoor spider

orionmystery · Mar 6, 2013

Liphistius malayanus

IMG_9176 copy by Kurt (Hock Ping Guek) orionmystery.blogspot.com, on Flickr

IMG_9181 copy by Kurt (Hock Ping Guek) orionmystery.blogspot.com, on Flickr

IMG_9151 copy by Kurt (Hock Ping Guek) orionmystery.blogspot.com, on Flickr

IMG_9159 copy by Kurt (Hock Ping Guek) orionmystery.blogspot.com, on Flickr

Overread · Mar 6, 2013

Please tell me its a toy - please please please!

Because that looks like one of the most frightening spiders ever!

runnah · Mar 6, 2013

Overread said:
Please tell me its a toy - please please please!

Because that looks like one of the most frightening spiders ever!

Pure nightmare fuel. It's the red bits that look like eyes that get me. Pure evil.

weepete · Mar 6, 2013

What a cracking subject! Can't decide which shot I like best, though I think its 2 or 3

ralphh · Mar 6, 2013

*crosses Malaysia off the 'places I'd like to visit' list*

Your exiff says subject distance of about 3 feet (!) is that thing as dangereous as it looks???

Pukka312 · Mar 6, 2013

I would have only shot that with a 500mm lens...I don't do spiders

cgipson1 · Mar 6, 2013

Wow... that is a serious arachnid! Nicely shot!

greybeard · Mar 6, 2013

Nice capture, I especially like #2

sm4him · Mar 6, 2013

Wow, what a spider!! Love that second shot, that's just awesome.

I gotta admit though--as much as I love doing insect macros (which about 98% of my female friends just find creepy and "gross" LOL)--seeing that thing coming at me might just make me scream like a girl! :lmao:

CoBilly · Mar 6, 2013

Ahhhhh! Kill it! Kill it with fire!

Just kidding...kind of. That's a fantastic shot but that doesn't change the fact that it's scary.

orionmystery · Mar 7, 2013

Thanks for looking and commenting!

I used a 150mm macro lens with a 1.4x teleconverter/extender. The subject was about one inch body length. I find it very cute and photogenic. Also found tarantulas nearby too!

ralphh · Mar 7, 2013

Phew! It looks like it's the size of a small dinner plate!! Its certainly the meanest looking thing I've seen in a while.

Thinking about it, wasn't the that spider in Lord of the Rings? You've photographed a celebrity! :lol:

Overread · Mar 7, 2013

I'm surprised to hear how small it is. Not because of its looks but so much because of the way you've photographed it which made it look all the larger.

That said I'll stick to cute jumping spiders over cute trapdoor spiders

Aloicious · Mar 7, 2013

I don't know, something about the name alone 'giant man-eating armored short-tempered trapdoor battle-ready spider' doesn't conjure up thoughts of a cute small harmless spider...heh great images!