Lyssomanes viridis

Posted 8 August 2016 by

Photograph by Al Denelsbeck. Photography contest, runner-up.
Lyssomanes viridis -- magnolia green jumping spider, juvenile female. All jumping spiders have excellent binocular vision for use in obtaining food, but since the cornea is a fixed part of the exoskeleton, the eyes must move internally. With the magnolia green jumpers, the exoskeleton is translucent enough to allow the internal movement of the eyes to be seen, and they can move independently. I had captured this one and was keeping it in a small terrarium, providing appropriately-sized prey, and when it snagged a small midge while perched on a weed, I was able to move the entire plant out to obtain a decent photography angle.

8 Comments

Henry J · 8 August 2016

That guy should have its own web site.

Alan Rice · 8 August 2016

It is a great photo.
Does she have a name?

Pierce R. Butler · 9 August 2016

Lyssomanes viridis looks improbably mammalian - but obviously she wields a deadly golf-tee.

Ray Martinez · 10 August 2016

Blatant example of ID that one will find anywhere, anytime.

phhht · 10 August 2016

No gods were necessary for the existence of this creature.

Just Bob · 11 August 2016

Ray Martinez said: Blatant example of ID that one will find anywhere, anytime.
Yeah, like the schistosome. And the plasmodium. And Pthirus pubis. Praise Jesus for so perfectly designing such epitomes of intelligent design.

Michael Fugate · 11 August 2016

Q: Do you why tardigrades look like bears?
Ray: Jesus!

Henry J · 12 August 2016

Michael Fugate said: Q: Do you why tardigrades look like bears? Ray: Jesus!
Because they hibernate.