EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Each week a different image of our fascinating environment is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional ecologist.

27 May - 2 June 2024

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Huntsman in Hiding

Huntsman Spider (Heteropoda boiei), Family Sparassidae
Tanjung Puting National Park, Borneo, Indonesia

Credit & Copyright: Dr. Bruce G. Marcot

Explanation:  A bit more obvious in close-up with my headlamp illuminating it, is this very cryptic huntsman spider.  It is blending amazingly well on this tree trunk bark, here in Tanjung Puting National Park in southern Borneo, Indonesia.  

I am out on a night hike exploration of the park, and encountered this individual and several others, all wonderfully blending into their substrates.  



This species is known as the "Lichen Huntsman Spider" apparently because it blends well into tree bark with lichen patches, as shown in the images above and below.  



In the full dark of night, here in southern Borneo, I would never have noticed these individuals if I had not been spotlighting the trees in search of these rarities of the tropics.


   
      

Next week's picture:  White-breasted Kingfisher

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