Heteropoda davidbowie Tropical Spider Arachnida Araneae Sparassidae

Heteropoda davidbowie body cm 2-3 Tropical Spider Arachnida Araneae Araneida Sparassidae.
The approximate measurement with legs extended (legspan) could reach about 10 cm.
Family: Sparassidae.
Common name: Hunter Spider.

Heteropoda davidbowie Jäger, 2008 is a spider belonging to the Sparassidae family, widespread in Malaysia, Singapore and Sumatra, whose name is dedicated to the singer David Bowie.
This rare species of arachnid was identified by a German arachnologist, Peter Jäger and was later named in this way (David Bowie) in order to raise awareness about the fact that many of these animal varieties are seriously at risk of extinction; therefore giving it this name could attract attention and stimulate popular interest. The Heteropoda davidbowie is characterized by yellowish/orange fur in the female, while the male specimen has a reddish back, tending towards brown or light gray. It has a row of four small eyes and four slightly larger ones positioned below the first. It is quite small in size (maximum 2.5 cm) and its chelicerae, proportionate to its size, are of considerable size and are positioned on the front of the body. It has eight long legs that however have the particularity of bending in different points, as if it had several joints for each leg.
Usually, spiders of the Heteropoda species are skilled hunters. Its hunting consists of chasing its prey and then attacking it by injecting it with venom.
The adult is more easily found on the bark of trees, while the young specimen can be found on shrubs or on the forest floor.

Sparassidae Bertkau, 1872 is a family of spiders belonging to the infraorder Araneomorphae, order Araneae (Araneida).
The name derives from the Greek sparàsso meaning "to tear", "to rend" or "to be seized by convulsions", due to the strong movements and wriggling that these spiders perform both when they are grabbed and as a courtship ritual.
Also known as hunter spiders, they are quite large: the largest male specimens of Heteropoda maxima reach a body length of 30 cm with outstretched legs. Despite their size, they bite humans only if provoked and the bite generally heals after a couple of days of swelling and redness. Sometimes confused with tarantulas in the Australian territory where the two families coexist, Sparassidae are distinguished by having their front legs stretched forward like crabs.
The color varies from brown to gray, but also red and green. Their legs are covered with rather prominent spines, but the rest of the body is quite smooth. The worst bites, which cause nausea and vomiting as well as significant swelling, are inflicted by members of the genus Neosparassus.
They do not build webs, but hunt for food, such as insects and other invertebrates. They are capable of walking extremely fast, and climbing walls and ceilings. When trying to grab them, they try to cling or wriggle convulsively (hence the name) and, without warning, bite, especially if they are females carrying an egg sac.
They are spiders that mainly live in woods, forests and piles of wood, but they do not disdain warehouses and rarely frequented homes. Hiding among the piles of wood that ships carry around the world has contributed greatly to their spread. In case of rain, it is not uncommon to see them enter homes. They have been found in Italy.