Tiger huntsman

AUSTRALIAN INVERTEBRATES: TIGER HUNTSMAN SPIDER

The Tiger Huntsman spider, native to Australia, stands as one of the country's most magnificent arachnids. In 2006, during a field trip in north Queensland for Melbourne Museum, this extraordinary species was encountered for the first time. At that point, there were no official records documenting its existence.

Upon discovery, the distinctiveness of the Tiger Huntsman became immediately apparent, prompting further investigation upon returning to the museum. Unsurprisingly, it was confirmed as a new species to science. The initial female specimen found was gravid, and through dedicated efforts at Melbourne Museum, her offspring were successfully raised and bred. Specimens have been provided to huntsman spider taxonomists in Australia, awaiting formal classification.

Preliminary taxonomic analysis suggested a potential placement within the Typostola genus. However, molecular research conducted on the Tiger Huntsman in the United States has yielded inconclusive results, indicating the need for further taxonomic studies. There is a possibility that it may even belong to a newly established genus. Since relocating to north Queensland in 2010, over a dozen wild Tiger Huntsman specimens have been sighted, and a stable captive breeding group of this remarkable species has been maintained.

Assessing the rarity of this species in the wild poses challenges. They are elusive and encountered far less frequently compared to other Sparassid species inhabiting the wet tropics of north Queensland. Their daytime retreats are crafted within silked-together rainforest leaves, resembling miniature nests akin to those of Green Tree Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina). Based on observations in captivity, it is plausible that they hunt from these retreats and ambush unsuspecting prey traversing the leaves that serve as their shelter. Despite their size, Tiger Huntsman spiders exhibit remarkable agility, confidently leaping from leaf to leaf. Adult females have been documented leaping distances exceeding 40cm to adjacent branches and leaves.

Like other large huntsman spiders, they exhibit opportunistic predatory behavior, swiftly overpowering small animals for sustenance. While invertebrates constitute the majority of their prey, they may also capture small vertebrates such as tree frogs and geckos in their natural habitat.

Females produce distinctive white disc-shaped egg sacs, roughly the size of a 50 cent coin. Constructing nest chambers using silk and leaves, they diligently incubate their eggs. The hatching process takes approximately one month, after which the spiderlings remain with their mother in the nest chamber for a week or longer before dispersing. In the wild, only a few offspring would survive, making captive breeding and conservation efforts crucial. Since 2007, extensive research has been conducted on the husbandry and breeding of Tiger Huntsman spiders, yielding valuable insights into the care of these captivating arachnids.

The coloration intensity of the female Tiger Huntsman spiders becomes more pronounced as they mature. Only the females exhibit tiger-like markings, while the males display a brown coloration with pinkish hairs covering their legs and bodies.

Photographs depict an adult female Tiger Huntsman spider gracefully navigating between leaves, utilizing a silk safety line, as well as a poised adult female ready to leap, showcasing their impressive agility.