Nephila what?

[Draiman]

I found this orb-weaver with strange red legs yesterday. What is it? (excuse the picture quality please)

 

[davidbarber1]

Phark, the picture quality is great. It is Nephila, but what type, I cannot find. We will just have to wait for the pros.

David

 

[Matt K]

Phark-

You live in a part of the world where there are many things the rest of us have not seen or identified, so your pictures are great! Also they are a bit of a puzzle or challenge to test how we use our resources....

 

[jsloan]

Where did you find this spider? Country, region, city, etc.

 

[willyomt]

Perhaps Nephila rufapoda.

 

[buthus]

WOW thats a beaut!

 

[Draiman]

Where did you find this spider? Country, region, city, etc.

Singapore. I'm just surprised by the red legs. Over here there is at least one species - Nephila maculata, but it does not have red legs. Could this be an undiscovered species?

 

[jsloan]

Could this be an undiscovered species?

It might be Nephila kuhli, also from Singapore:

http://www.eart-h.com/text/kuhli1.htm

And, more pictures:

http://flickr.com/photos/spiderman/510780386/

Looks like a very good match, without examining the spider up close.

 

[jsloan]

BTW, this spider was first described in 1859, by Doleschall. It is also found in southern India. According to Platnick, the correct spelling is Nephila kuhlii (two i's).

 

[Draiman]

Yes, I think you're right. Thanks for the input.

 

[davidbarber1]

jsloan is the winner. N kuhlii did not come up on my searches. I missed it. You are correct.

David

 

[Draiman]

jsloan is the winner. N kuhlii did not come up on my searches. I missed it. You are correct.

David

I think Nephila kuhlii is simply a synonym of Nephila maculata (or the other way round), and that the spiders we are seeing in these pics are just a melanistic colour morph.

 

[jsloan]

I think Nephila kuhlii is simply a synonym of Nephila maculata (or the other way round), and that the spiders we are seeing in these pics are just a melanistic colour morph.

N. maculata is a synonym of N. pilipes. Those two names have been switched back and forth through the years, but neither was ever synonymous with N. kuhlii.

According to Platnick N. kuhlii is a separate species:

http://research.amnh.org/entomology/spiders/catalog/NEPHILIDAE.html

Nevertheless, I wouldn't say it is absolutely certain what species of spider is in your photograph. You might want to take it to an expert for identification. Until then, you can call it Nephila cf. kuhlii.