Shreyas Kuchibhotla
@snake-spider-et-al.bsky.social
Biology DPhil student at Oxford - Snakes, spiders and centipedes (and their toxins) | Writer | TEDx speaker | Photographer
Reposted by Shreyas Kuchibhotla
Things that can happen while filming Portia in the field: we had a (not so) little visitor wandering by with his chicks! Not sure who was more surprised… #cassowary #portia #daintree #storiesfromthefield
November 29, 2025 at 6:49 AM
Things that can happen while filming Portia in the field: we had a (not so) little visitor wandering by with his chicks! Not sure who was more surprised… #cassowary #portia #daintree #storiesfromthefield
Reposted by Shreyas Kuchibhotla
My 3rd record for Walckenaeria obtusa at this woodland site, all 3 have been in moss under pines, all my W.nudipalpis records from that site are from leaf litter under sweet chestnut trees.
@britishspiders.bsky.social
@tylanberry.bsky.social
@graemelyons.bsky.social
@britishspiders.bsky.social
@tylanberry.bsky.social
@graemelyons.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 3:42 PM
My 3rd record for Walckenaeria obtusa at this woodland site, all 3 have been in moss under pines, all my W.nudipalpis records from that site are from leaf litter under sweet chestnut trees.
@britishspiders.bsky.social
@tylanberry.bsky.social
@graemelyons.bsky.social
@britishspiders.bsky.social
@tylanberry.bsky.social
@graemelyons.bsky.social
What a find! A spider which seems oddly reluctant to be discovered
@britishspiders.bsky.social @tylanberry.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk Really happy to find this spider (another follow-up of Rowley Snazell's old Bucks records). From a site I'd visited previously, but looking at in a new way, thanks to a tip from @chizz13.bsky.social
Walckenaeria dysderoides #spiders
Walckenaeria dysderoides #spiders
November 7, 2025 at 9:07 PM
What a find! A spider which seems oddly reluctant to be discovered
What a privilege to have seen both ends of the UK's spider size spectrum - the magnificent Cardinal Spider (Tegenaria parietina) and the diminutive Theonoe minutissima within a few days of each other - a 50x difference in legspan!
@britishspiders.bsky.social
@britishspiders.bsky.social
November 3, 2025 at 6:12 PM
What a privilege to have seen both ends of the UK's spider size spectrum - the magnificent Cardinal Spider (Tegenaria parietina) and the diminutive Theonoe minutissima within a few days of each other - a 50x difference in legspan!
@britishspiders.bsky.social
@britishspiders.bsky.social
Reposted by Shreyas Kuchibhotla
Good to finally get across to the border and do a bit of conifer wood bashing in Devon. Didn't take me long to find the mossy habitat for Centromerus serratus. It was accompanied by the usual Saaristoa firma and Porrhomma pallidum. @britishspiders.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk
September 14, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Good to finally get across to the border and do a bit of conifer wood bashing in Devon. Didn't take me long to find the mossy habitat for Centromerus serratus. It was accompanied by the usual Saaristoa firma and Porrhomma pallidum. @britishspiders.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk
Reposted by Shreyas Kuchibhotla
A dream come true: seeing a pelican spider (Archaeidae) in the field
Austrarchaea griswoldi, found in Eungella National Park, Queensland
Austrarchaea griswoldi, found in Eungella National Park, Queensland
October 21, 2025 at 7:55 AM
A dream come true: seeing a pelican spider (Archaeidae) in the field
Austrarchaea griswoldi, found in Eungella National Park, Queensland
Austrarchaea griswoldi, found in Eungella National Park, Queensland
I am dangerously behind on #arachtober:
Day 11 - K for Koppe (Liocranidae) - Asian ground-hunters
Day 12 - L for Leucauge (Tetragnathidae) - colourfully patterned orbweavers
Day 13 - M for Mastigusa (Cybaeidae) - palps that need no introduction
@britishspiders.bsky.social
Day 11 - K for Koppe (Liocranidae) - Asian ground-hunters
Day 12 - L for Leucauge (Tetragnathidae) - colourfully patterned orbweavers
Day 13 - M for Mastigusa (Cybaeidae) - palps that need no introduction
@britishspiders.bsky.social
October 21, 2025 at 9:32 AM
I am dangerously behind on #arachtober:
Day 11 - K for Koppe (Liocranidae) - Asian ground-hunters
Day 12 - L for Leucauge (Tetragnathidae) - colourfully patterned orbweavers
Day 13 - M for Mastigusa (Cybaeidae) - palps that need no introduction
@britishspiders.bsky.social
Day 11 - K for Koppe (Liocranidae) - Asian ground-hunters
Day 12 - L for Leucauge (Tetragnathidae) - colourfully patterned orbweavers
Day 13 - M for Mastigusa (Cybaeidae) - palps that need no introduction
@britishspiders.bsky.social
Reposted by Shreyas Kuchibhotla
I knew I Zora difference!!
How ridiculoudly satisfying to see pics of all four of these species together. Clockwise from top left - armillata, spinimana, silvestris, nemoralis. @britishspiders.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk @graemelyons.bsky.social @chalkspring.bsky.social @ajcann.bsky.social
How ridiculoudly satisfying to see pics of all four of these species together. Clockwise from top left - armillata, spinimana, silvestris, nemoralis. @britishspiders.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk @graemelyons.bsky.social @chalkspring.bsky.social @ajcann.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 8:13 PM
I knew I Zora difference!!
How ridiculoudly satisfying to see pics of all four of these species together. Clockwise from top left - armillata, spinimana, silvestris, nemoralis. @britishspiders.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk @graemelyons.bsky.social @chalkspring.bsky.social @ajcann.bsky.social
How ridiculoudly satisfying to see pics of all four of these species together. Clockwise from top left - armillata, spinimana, silvestris, nemoralis. @britishspiders.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk @graemelyons.bsky.social @chalkspring.bsky.social @ajcann.bsky.social
#arachtober A-Z:
Day 9: I is for Indoxysticus - a monotypic crab spider genus with a very distinct abdomen pattern
Day 10: J is for Jerzego - an oddly named genus of jumping spiders that seem to mimic ants and hate being photographed
@britishspiders.bsky.social
Day 9: I is for Indoxysticus - a monotypic crab spider genus with a very distinct abdomen pattern
Day 10: J is for Jerzego - an oddly named genus of jumping spiders that seem to mimic ants and hate being photographed
@britishspiders.bsky.social
October 10, 2025 at 6:29 PM
#arachtober A-Z:
Day 9: I is for Indoxysticus - a monotypic crab spider genus with a very distinct abdomen pattern
Day 10: J is for Jerzego - an oddly named genus of jumping spiders that seem to mimic ants and hate being photographed
@britishspiders.bsky.social
Day 9: I is for Indoxysticus - a monotypic crab spider genus with a very distinct abdomen pattern
Day 10: J is for Jerzego - an oddly named genus of jumping spiders that seem to mimic ants and hate being photographed
@britishspiders.bsky.social
#arachtober A-Z:
Day 6 - F for Floronia - the chameleon spider
Day 7 - G for Gnaphosa (the best spider genus in the best spider family, no other opinions accepted)
Day 8 - H for Heteropoda - giant huntsman spiders (pictured is the delightful H. davidbowie)
@britishspiders.bsky.social
Day 6 - F for Floronia - the chameleon spider
Day 7 - G for Gnaphosa (the best spider genus in the best spider family, no other opinions accepted)
Day 8 - H for Heteropoda - giant huntsman spiders (pictured is the delightful H. davidbowie)
@britishspiders.bsky.social
October 10, 2025 at 6:19 PM
#arachtober A-Z:
Day 6 - F for Floronia - the chameleon spider
Day 7 - G for Gnaphosa (the best spider genus in the best spider family, no other opinions accepted)
Day 8 - H for Heteropoda - giant huntsman spiders (pictured is the delightful H. davidbowie)
@britishspiders.bsky.social
Day 6 - F for Floronia - the chameleon spider
Day 7 - G for Gnaphosa (the best spider genus in the best spider family, no other opinions accepted)
Day 8 - H for Heteropoda - giant huntsman spiders (pictured is the delightful H. davidbowie)
@britishspiders.bsky.social
Reposted by Shreyas Kuchibhotla
@britishspiders.bsky.social @tylanberry.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social
Me: I don't have a favourite UK spider
Also me: 😍
#Arachtober
Me: I don't have a favourite UK spider
Also me: 😍
#Arachtober
October 4, 2025 at 12:24 PM
@britishspiders.bsky.social @tylanberry.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social
Me: I don't have a favourite UK spider
Also me: 😍
#Arachtober
Me: I don't have a favourite UK spider
Also me: 😍
#Arachtober
Reposted by Shreyas Kuchibhotla
Wacky unicornis - two from Sundays efforts in the Wicken fens. I can't spell Walckenaeria. Or can I?
October 7, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Wacky unicornis - two from Sundays efforts in the Wicken fens. I can't spell Walckenaeria. Or can I?
Don't know if I'll have time for a daily #arachtober find this year, so I'll go with an A-Z of genera instead.
A for Amyciaea (Thomisidae), an ant-mimic
B for Bijoaraneus (Araneidae) - 'kidney garden spider'
C for Corinnomma (Corinnidae), another ant-mimic
@britishspiders.bsky.social
A for Amyciaea (Thomisidae), an ant-mimic
B for Bijoaraneus (Araneidae) - 'kidney garden spider'
C for Corinnomma (Corinnidae), another ant-mimic
@britishspiders.bsky.social
October 5, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Don't know if I'll have time for a daily #arachtober find this year, so I'll go with an A-Z of genera instead.
A for Amyciaea (Thomisidae), an ant-mimic
B for Bijoaraneus (Araneidae) - 'kidney garden spider'
C for Corinnomma (Corinnidae), another ant-mimic
@britishspiders.bsky.social
A for Amyciaea (Thomisidae), an ant-mimic
B for Bijoaraneus (Araneidae) - 'kidney garden spider'
C for Corinnomma (Corinnidae), another ant-mimic
@britishspiders.bsky.social
Reposted by Shreyas Kuchibhotla
The Ig Nobel is incredible , one year an Indian guy won it for calculating the average surface area of an elephant and during his acceptance they had an elephant hold up a sign with the surface area of the scientist on it, they do showbiz better than the Oscars
Video: a Japanese scientist was attacked by flies while giving the acceptance speech for his Ig Nobel Prize-winning research paper that proved painting Zebra-like stripes on cows led to a decrease in biting fly attacks.
October 4, 2025 at 2:11 PM
The Ig Nobel is incredible , one year an Indian guy won it for calculating the average surface area of an elephant and during his acceptance they had an elephant hold up a sign with the surface area of the scientist on it, they do showbiz better than the Oscars
In the UK, finding a new salticid is a privilege. In Singapore, over 10 species in 5 hours isn’t unusual!
Here’s a selection - from left: Epeus sp., Viciria pavesii, Chalcovietnamicus daiqini and the iconic and intelligent spider-hunter Portia fimbriata.
@britishspiders.bsky.social
Here’s a selection - from left: Epeus sp., Viciria pavesii, Chalcovietnamicus daiqini and the iconic and intelligent spider-hunter Portia fimbriata.
@britishspiders.bsky.social
September 28, 2025 at 11:28 AM
In the UK, finding a new salticid is a privilege. In Singapore, over 10 species in 5 hours isn’t unusual!
Here’s a selection - from left: Epeus sp., Viciria pavesii, Chalcovietnamicus daiqini and the iconic and intelligent spider-hunter Portia fimbriata.
@britishspiders.bsky.social
Here’s a selection - from left: Epeus sp., Viciria pavesii, Chalcovietnamicus daiqini and the iconic and intelligent spider-hunter Portia fimbriata.
@britishspiders.bsky.social
No. 2 and 1 in the weirdest spider palps contest (UK chapter).
Left: Labulla thoracica, right: Mastigusa arietina.
Lucky enough to see both within a week, and finally photograph Mastigusa properly (thanks to @chalkspring.bsky.social)
@tylanberry.bsky.social @britishspiders.bsky.social
Left: Labulla thoracica, right: Mastigusa arietina.
Lucky enough to see both within a week, and finally photograph Mastigusa properly (thanks to @chalkspring.bsky.social)
@tylanberry.bsky.social @britishspiders.bsky.social
September 26, 2025 at 11:41 AM
No. 2 and 1 in the weirdest spider palps contest (UK chapter).
Left: Labulla thoracica, right: Mastigusa arietina.
Lucky enough to see both within a week, and finally photograph Mastigusa properly (thanks to @chalkspring.bsky.social)
@tylanberry.bsky.social @britishspiders.bsky.social
Left: Labulla thoracica, right: Mastigusa arietina.
Lucky enough to see both within a week, and finally photograph Mastigusa properly (thanks to @chalkspring.bsky.social)
@tylanberry.bsky.social @britishspiders.bsky.social
Reposted by Shreyas Kuchibhotla
Getting out of the car in Camborne:
Cake collection....3 minutes.
Badumna longinqua count....5
It's as easy as...errrm...cake?
@britishspiders.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk @chalkspring.bsky.social
Cake collection....3 minutes.
Badumna longinqua count....5
It's as easy as...errrm...cake?
@britishspiders.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk @chalkspring.bsky.social
September 16, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Getting out of the car in Camborne:
Cake collection....3 minutes.
Badumna longinqua count....5
It's as easy as...errrm...cake?
@britishspiders.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk @chalkspring.bsky.social
Cake collection....3 minutes.
Badumna longinqua count....5
It's as easy as...errrm...cake?
@britishspiders.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk @chalkspring.bsky.social
Reposted by Shreyas Kuchibhotla
@britishspiders.bsky.social @tylanberry.bsky.social Waterside Long-jawed Orb Weavers aren't usually easy to identify in situ. There is one exception: with the extremely wide spacing between its anterior and posterior lateral eyes, Tetragnatha striata is unique amongst the UK species in this genus
August 27, 2025 at 6:10 PM
@britishspiders.bsky.social @tylanberry.bsky.social Waterside Long-jawed Orb Weavers aren't usually easy to identify in situ. There is one exception: with the extremely wide spacing between its anterior and posterior lateral eyes, Tetragnatha striata is unique amongst the UK species in this genus
Reposted by Shreyas Kuchibhotla
Uncovered this stunner while lifting heather in search of Gnaphosidae, Last record i can see in 1995 for this site, ive seen the webs before but never the spider, ive searched for wandering males no luck as of yet. Atypus affinis
@britishspiders.bsky.social
#spiders #arachnids
@britishspiders.bsky.social
#spiders #arachnids
August 2, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Uncovered this stunner while lifting heather in search of Gnaphosidae, Last record i can see in 1995 for this site, ive seen the webs before but never the spider, ive searched for wandering males no luck as of yet. Atypus affinis
@britishspiders.bsky.social
#spiders #arachnids
@britishspiders.bsky.social
#spiders #arachnids
Reposted by Shreyas Kuchibhotla
Always keep your eye out for collections of dirt hanging in mid air at the base of walls, particularly where you see Lasius niger marching in lines. Note the thick support threads and longer, hollow retreat structure - this is no Cryptachaea blattea, this is C. riparia! @britishspiders.bsky.social
August 8, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Always keep your eye out for collections of dirt hanging in mid air at the base of walls, particularly where you see Lasius niger marching in lines. Note the thick support threads and longer, hollow retreat structure - this is no Cryptachaea blattea, this is C. riparia! @britishspiders.bsky.social
Reposted by Shreyas Kuchibhotla
@britishspiders.bsky.social @tylanberry.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social A good start to my Scotland trip, but the weather forecast doesn't look promising.
Clubiona subsultans, Dipoena torva (not shown), Cryphoeca silvicola, and a decent supporting cast
Clubiona subsultans, Dipoena torva (not shown), Cryphoeca silvicola, and a decent supporting cast
August 6, 2025 at 8:33 AM
@britishspiders.bsky.social @tylanberry.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social A good start to my Scotland trip, but the weather forecast doesn't look promising.
Clubiona subsultans, Dipoena torva (not shown), Cryphoeca silvicola, and a decent supporting cast
Clubiona subsultans, Dipoena torva (not shown), Cryphoeca silvicola, and a decent supporting cast
New species are great, but it's not often I get to tick off a new family. Psechrus sp. (Psechridae), my 46th wild spider family. Technically added Ctenidae moments earlier with a Bowie sp. but that one didn't want to stay still for photos so I will wait...
@britishspiders.bsky.social
@britishspiders.bsky.social
July 25, 2025 at 2:08 PM
New species are great, but it's not often I get to tick off a new family. Psechrus sp. (Psechridae), my 46th wild spider family. Technically added Ctenidae moments earlier with a Bowie sp. but that one didn't want to stay still for photos so I will wait...
@britishspiders.bsky.social
@britishspiders.bsky.social
Reposted by Shreyas Kuchibhotla
Recorded two females and four male Thomisus onustus from a site in west sussex first time ive found them at this site, last records are from Dick Jones in 1996 so great the species is still there and doing well.
@britishspiders.bsky.social
#spiders #thomisusonustus #ukspiders
@britishspiders.bsky.social
#spiders #thomisusonustus #ukspiders
July 6, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Recorded two females and four male Thomisus onustus from a site in west sussex first time ive found them at this site, last records are from Dick Jones in 1996 so great the species is still there and doing well.
@britishspiders.bsky.social
#spiders #thomisusonustus #ukspiders
@britishspiders.bsky.social
#spiders #thomisusonustus #ukspiders
Reposted by Shreyas Kuchibhotla
Can we all just take a moment to stare into those puppy-dog eyes... 😍
I think it's very important to see invertebrates up close so you can see that they are not 'out to get you' or 'creepy'.
Instead, they are absolute wonders of evolution.
I think it's very important to see invertebrates up close so you can see that they are not 'out to get you' or 'creepy'.
Instead, they are absolute wonders of evolution.
June 30, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Can we all just take a moment to stare into those puppy-dog eyes... 😍
I think it's very important to see invertebrates up close so you can see that they are not 'out to get you' or 'creepy'.
Instead, they are absolute wonders of evolution.
I think it's very important to see invertebrates up close so you can see that they are not 'out to get you' or 'creepy'.
Instead, they are absolute wonders of evolution.
Reposted by Shreyas Kuchibhotla
Some more special spiders from under stones on the Dorset cliffs - Gnaphosa lugubris and an absolute tank of a Phaeocedus braccatus. Interesting how the fauna on the limestone differs to the granite that I'm used to in Cornwall. @britishspiders.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk
June 24, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Some more special spiders from under stones on the Dorset cliffs - Gnaphosa lugubris and an absolute tank of a Phaeocedus braccatus. Interesting how the fauna on the limestone differs to the granite that I'm used to in Cornwall. @britishspiders.bsky.social @graemelyons.bsky.social @cofnod.org.uk