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Alexander Dudley | all galleries >> Australian Invertebrates >> Australian Spiders >> "Huntsman" Spiders > Always check your footwear!
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30/6/2000 Alexander Dudley

Always check your footwear!

Jabiru NT, Australia

I had just sent off an e-mail to an arachnophobic friend promising her a spider-free stay at my house in Jabiru when I looked
under my desk and saw this. I was very pleased the boot had long laces with which I could hurl it into the garden.
The word on the side of the boot is a brand, not an instruction, but is highly appropriate.

I have encountered this species of spider several times in various houses in Kakadu, and every time they have caused me serious
alarm. They are the fastest spiders I have ever seen and move unpredictably. I once danced with one (the tarantella?) in a narrow
tiled corridor for what seemed like half an hour as it ran in panic-stricken terror around my feet and I danced in panic-stricken
terror above. Both dancers survived.

Nikon F801 ,Nikkor 55mm Macro
Metz 20 BC4, Starblitz 160-slave, F22 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
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Ann Pettigrew26-Aug-2012 02:33
This is a very scary looking spider! Your story made me laugh out loud. I found you doing a search on spiders as I am having difficulty identifying a spider I photographed recently. Fortunately, mine seemed very content to stay still on the plant on which I found it and did not jump or dance with me!
Dominic Kite12-Sep-2004 20:34
Whilst in a morbid sense I think this is a very cool photo, it does remind me why sometimes living in Scotland is a good thing!