What sort of spider?

[Nemesis9]

Following up from China Doll's question, can anyone identify this spider for me?

http://ser4.imgdump.net/images/08032006/s4_62b 93e8aa18cfba.jpg

Photographed in my bathroom in Bali.

[Cetti]

Have you had as much luck as me Nemesis - nil?

For the last hour I have searched every website on Bali wildlife and natural history. Oh, the spiders are there all right and exactly the same picture as yours - but there's no name. It's so frustrating.....sorry :-(

[Nemesis9]

Thanks anyhow though : )

It was the the yellow knees that made it look so different, I haven't been able to find out anything about it, other than a observation that, as it was web based it probably wasn't too dangerous.
From memory it was about an inch bigger than the picture suggests, around 5". Not the biggest I've photographed but probably the most striking.

[Cetti]

It is a beautiful creature and a great photograph. I did find the angle of the legs a bit confusing until my husband suggested that the pic had been taken from the underside....silly me!! You were very brave. Even though it does say the majority of Balinese spiders are non poisonous you were still taking quite a chance.

If no one comes up with a name I will continue to search. It will probably take some time but find it I will.

[kuhugaq]

Could it be a Cyrtophora moluccensis. http://www.usq.edu.au/spider/find/spiders/Larg er.htm

[Nemesis9]

kuhugaq - Great website! But it's isn't a Cyrtophora moluccensis, that has different markings and is a lot smaller.

Cetti, I must confess to feeling a little nervous at the time, as I didn't find out till later that the spiders in Bali aren't poisonous. However, I once took a bite off a tiny little spider in Thailand that was supposed to be safe, and came up with a red welt the size of a 50p piece that itched like crazy for nearly two months! Drove me mad.

This has got me interested in trying to identity the little bug.er who descended on me from a tread above my bed in Sri Lanka. Now he really put the frighteners on me!

http://ser4.imgdump.net/images/08042006/s4_edd ae8788d0fb06.jpg

Picture doesn't do justice to this 'bad boy', he was approx 9" to10" in span, and had clearly been involved in a few fights in his time, hence the missing two legs. Anyone any ideas?

[Nemesis9]

Hey I think I've found him!!
Wow the internet is great!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sparassidae

[Rabelais]

It's a Golden Web Spider (Nephila Pilipes) called so because the web is actually a golden colour. Sorry about the delay, I didn't see this question till just now.

[Nemesis9]

Cheers Rabelais,

Just looked it up, and that's him...., actually a her!

http://www.naturia.per.sg/buloh/inverts/nephil a.htm

[Cetti]

Just looked in Nemesis, and so glad it's been found. Nephila pelipes and nephila maculata look very different on some sites and exactly the same on others, so I think I'll just call it a Giant Wood Spider.

Still think you were brave....she's a very big girl!

[China Doll]

Wow... that's actually very beautiful. Can't say I'd actually like to be in the vicinity of it but it's an amazing photo.

The website with all the spider pictures is interesting too.

[kuhugaq]

the golden web just never ceases to amaze me.do you have any good sites to share with us Rabelais.that really captured the imagination,theres so much we don't know.
what makes its web golden?