Mygalomorph fooled me

[RezonantVoid]

Detach one pedipalp and leg 1, then put him on some glass platform and take very clear photos of the underside of the specimen. You've now got maxillae shots and 2 of the key body parts used in ID, without removing the spiders the ability to breed (they can and will definitely get the job done even if they are down a few limbs. You can put the limbs in methylated spirits and send them away

 

[dragonblade71]

RezonanVoid, that is very interesting advice. Though I don't think I can bring myself to chop limbs off a live spider. I'll just have to wait for another mygal to come along.

 

[RezonantVoid]

RezonanVoid, that is very interesting advice. Though I don't think I can bring myself to chop limbs off a live spider. I'll just have to wait for another mygal to come along.

Also bare in mind he won't live much longer, you could just wait for him to pass and then send him in a bottle of methylated spirits

 

[dragonblade71]

Also bare in mind he won't live much longer, you could just wait for him to pass and then send him in a bottle of methylated spirits

I did consider that option. Though the local arachnologist is urging me to release him.

When I collected the other mygalomorphs earlier on, I didn't realise at the time that they were likely all mature males looking for a female. And due to my ignorance and carelessness, I prevented all of them from fulfilling their destiny. Also, two of them passed away in my care which I feel particularly bad about. And I didn't even think of contacting the arachnologist at the time so their bodies were disposed of unfortunately. I did take photographs of one of the bodies (including the underside if I recall) but I'm kicking myself for not sending the bodies to the arachnologist.

If it happens to be a small population, I feel bad about depriving these males of the chance to mate (with all of the ones that Ive caught.) That's not going to be good for the local population. Though if I release this latest male, he will be able to mate and continue the lineage. Plus he looks very healthy and in good shape. He's the most active of the mygals Ive caught so he likely has good genes.

Of course there could be the possibility that some of these earlier males may have mated before they were caught by me though of course there's no way to know that.

 

[dragonblade71]

Here's a side on view of the wishbone spider.

 

[dragonblade71]

Here are some videos I shot of this male wishbone spider.

 

[RezonantVoid]

From these additional views, I am pretty much certain of Proshermacha as the ID, Teyl and Teyloides have a different leg shape to this and less pronounced spur.

If you haven't done so already and still plan to, releasing him shouldn't wait any longer. Mature males of this family are not as long lived as T's and may suddenly pass despite looking perfectly healthy. Every day waited decreases the chances of him finding a mate in time

 

[dragonblade71]

Thank you for the ID. According to the local arachnologist, there is another genus with a megaspur on the island - Aname.

I have been wanting to release him but I have read that a lot of male mygalomorphs prefer to wander around after rain. I wasn't sure if this is the case with this guy. I want to release him under the right conditions to give him the best chance. It is forecast for rain today though it is currently very sunny. The plan is to release him tonight.

There could be a chance that he has already mated before I found him.

By that way, that first video in my previous post is gaining quite a few views in a short amount of time on youtube. I don't know why it's so popular. Initially, that second video had more views but then the first one surged ahead and keeps climbing higher.

 

[RezonantVoid]

Thank you for the ID. According to the local arachnologist, there is another genus with a megaspur on the island - Aname.

I have been wanting to release him but I have read that a lot of male mygalomorphs prefer to wander around after rain. I wasn't sure if this is the case with this guy. I want to release him under the right conditions to give him the best chance. It is forecast for rain today though it is currently very sunny. The plan is to release him tonight.

There could be a chance that he has already mated before I found him.

By that way, that first video in my previous post is gaining quite a few views in a short amount of time on youtube. I don't know why it's so popular. Initially, that second video had more views but then the first one surged ahead and keeps climbing higher.

That point about the wandering is kind of true, but unfortunately nature isn't always as helpful to them as to rain for them when they want it to, many wander at random points in the year including the driest parts. As long as he is in good shape, he should still have a good chance of finding a female as long as he is released where he was found.

Additionally, if a female is located by you, id be happy to try and breed them for you to give him the best shot, and send back as many slings as possible to be released around your home if desired. But I think the best option for the moment would be to release him within the next day or so

 

[dragonblade71]

He is still looking very healthy and active. Actually, this morning, he was quite restless and was desperately trying to escape (standing up on is hind legs and trying to get out of the container.) So yes, he's still in very good shape. A little later today, he was cleaning himself.

Thank you for the offer of breeding him. I'm guessing finding a female would be very challenging. I suppose there could be one somewhere around underground inside a burrow. I don't think Ive ever come across any wishbone spider burrow in the wild.

I will definitely release him tonight in the exact spot where I found him - right outside my bedroom door on the slate. I also found the last one in exactly the same location. That last one had beautiful colours. Kind of like a light creamy brown contrasted with the darker parts. I was hoping to photograph it but it escaped from it's plastic container in my bedroom overnight.

 

[dragonblade71]

There's lots of rain right now (as forecast.) Very wet outside. Should be a good night for a release tonight.

 

[dragonblade71]

He was released last night. I hope he stays safe while seeking out a female.

 

[dragonblade71]

Oh gosh, Ive just come across another wandering male mygalomorph walking around outside at night. I'm guessing possibly the same genus and species but this specimen appears more shiny under torch light. And I can't see those gaps in the hairs on the carapace. So it's likely a different individual to the one that I released a number of nights ago.

Well I guess it's my duty to hand this one over to the arachnologist. Still not happy about the euthanasia thing. This is quite an active one as well (a lot of spirit.) I will try and get some photographs first.

 

[dragonblade71]

Actually, on closer examination, it does look like it has some gaps in the hairs on the carapace, forming a somewhat similar 'pattern.' I'll take some macro photographs and compare them with photos I took of the one I released recently. Hopefully, it is a different individual.

 

[dragonblade71]

Ive finished the photo session of the newly caught mygal. When I examine the photos and compare them with images of the one that I released earlier, they do look very similar (when examining the hairs on the carapace.) Before the release, I was actually wondering if I would accidentally recapture the same individual specimen (the one that I decided to set free and go find a female and not be euthanised by an arachnologist.)

Today's photographs revealed more patches of bare skin among the hairs on the carapace compared to the previous mygal photographs I took weeks ago with the last capture. Though I'm not sure if this can be reliable as an identifying feature of individual spiders. I don't suppose mature males can lose hairs over time? Overall though, this one still looks very healthy and in good condition. I don't suppose individual spiders would have something unique about them like the equivalent of a human fingerprint?

Actually, Ive just noticed a line of hairs that run up the middle of the carapace towards the eyes (on today's photographs.) There is kind of a similar line of hairs on the other photographs taken weeks ago but it doesn't look like it extends as far. Though hard to tell exactly as some of the hairs on the side are brushed over (partly obscuring the view.)

 

[dragonblade71]

Here's my latest capture.

 

[RezonantVoid]

Definitely looking like another Proshermacha male

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Here's my latest capture. View attachment 452066

You’re bound to find a dead one eventually or one very raggedy .. to send to the experts to examine. Great photo these things look almost like tarantulas so closely related.

 

[dragonblade71]

Thanks for the confirmation ID and the good comments on the photo. I wonder if the arachnologist would be okay with the option of me keeping this one until he dies naturally.

I'm also trying to determine if this one is indeed a different individual to the other one that I released not too long ago and not the same spider. Ive attached a comparison here. The one I released is on the left and the current one is on the right. Within the red oval area in the right picture , you can see a vertical line of hairs running up the middle of the carapace. The one on the left also has this line of hairs (at least the bottom half) but some of the individual hairs look a little different to me. The spider on the right looks like it has a longer line of hairs that extends much higher - almost up to the eyes. Though I don't see the same thing in the left picture. Looks more like a bare patch on the left in the upper section of the carapace.

 

[Wolfram1]

Thanks for the confirmation ID and the good comments on the photo. I wonder if the arachnologist would be okay with the option of me keeping this one until he dies naturally.

I'm also trying to determine if this one is indeed a different individual to the other one that I released not too long ago and not the same spider. Ive attached a comparison here. The one I released is on the left and the current one is on the right. Within the red oval area in the right picture View attachment 452077 , you can see a vertical line of hairs running up the middle of the carapace. The one on the left also has this line of hairs (at least the bottom half) but some of the individual hairs look a little different to me. The spider on the right looks like it has a longer line of hairs that extends much higher - almost up to the eyes. Though I don't see the same thing in the left picture. Looks more like a bare patch on the left in the upper section of the carapace.

yes looks like it is a different one, it can only have lost setae, not gained any so since it has a few setae the other one didnt have it must therefore be a different individual