This was the first time I had encountered another spider the size of an orb-weaver spider. I noticed this guy lying motionless in the shrub. "Just a carcass," I told my friend. I tried to touch its abdomen carefully, and its legs moved slowly. Damn! I was shocked; the spider was still alive. Luckily this guy didn't bite me.
This is an Olios huntsman spider (Olios lutescens) that rarely reveals itself in the bushes. Its pedipalps resembled black fists, indicating that it was a male. Small eyes aligned on its face framed large, intimidating jaws. Those long, sturdy legs ended in claws that grasped the leaves. Although it was calm, I felt quite wary about observing this creature closely. This spider was unpredictable; it could reveal its true nature as a huntsman spider at any time.
