Singapore Diversity: SPIDERS - A Spiny Collection

The Spiny orb-weavers are one of the most unique spiders where they can show off a variety of colours, shapes and patterns. They also come in different sizes especially in their adult form. Their webs can go as big stretching tree to tree, spanning a distance of one to two metres.

1. Gasteracantha doriae (Doria's Spiny Spider) - My first encounter of this spider was at Mandai Track 7 high up above my head, and the second encounter was at Old Upper Thomson Road PCN.

2. Gasteracantha kuhli (Black-and-white Spiny Spider) - This spider was seen many times at a neighbourhood park in Yishun and also along Yishun Ave 1. I believed it can be seen in parks with dense vegetation. It is a small spider with a big web.

3. Gasteracantha mengei (Spiny Orbweaver) - Both encounters were seen along Mandai Track 7. They are huge and their webs are high up in the tree.

4. Macracantha arcuata (Curved Spiny Spider or Longhorn Orbweaver) - This species was previously in the genus Gasteracantha. It is the biggest in the Spiny family in Singapore. So far, it was spotted only at Mandai Track 7.

5. Macracantha hasselti (Hasselt's Spiny Spider) - This species was also previously in the genus Gasteracantha. This is more commonly seen and I had seen many of them along Yishun Ave 1, Ulu Sembawang PCN, Mandai PCN and in some neighbourhood parks.

6. Thelacantha brevispina (Asian Spinybacked Orbweaver) - I was so lucky to spot this very uncommon spider next to a playground nested within the HDB blocks. This is a very tiny spider with a normal size web therefore not easily spotted. I had seen people spotting it at the precinct of Upper Pierce.

I have not seen any male spiny spiders so far and because they are even smaller than all the females above, it makes them even harder to spot. I am therefore still on a mission of looking for them and trying to photograph more Spinys!

Thank you for your time!!

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