Green Lynx Spider ~ Peucetia viridans
Polka-dotted translucent legs set folded around the shiny slim body of the green lynx spider. It is crouching, waiting for some daydreaming insect to land nearby. The front legs are slightly suspended as if in a trance, and each leg is fitted with multiple spines that ought to come with a warning sign: "Caution: Barbed Wire Ahead with an Attitude." Other spiders also have spine-like hairs but the green lynx spider's are especially prominent because of their length and dark contrast with the lynx's legs. While these guys often wait silently for their food to come to them, they are known to be aggressive, deftly chasing prey from one plant to the next. If you live in the Southern U.S. now would be good time to check under your bed.
With egg sac. Photo copyright Herschel Raney.
Used by permission.
Peucetia viridans does not spin a web to catch prey. The female will use her silk to make a nursery and an egg sack, a rough bundle as big as herself (a half inch, not including legs) which she attaches to a plant and guards ferociously. When threatened, she can aim her fangs and spit venom onto an attacker's face from eight inches away. After the spiderlings hatch, they will explore the nursery web under mom's watchful eye until they are old enough to fend for themselves.
A dragonfly lands, inches away from the unflinching green lynx. The spider's eight eyes are secretly brimming with delight. To the dragonfly, the spider is all but invisible; its shape and light green or brownish color--combined with a death-like stillness-- together perfect a floral charade. When the lynx is finally noticed, it is much too late. ~GL~
Peucetia viridans with male amber-wing. Photo copyright Herschel Raney. Used by permission.
Above: A green lynx preying. Copyright Chua Kok Beng Marcus. Used by permission.
- Taxonomy: Kingdom Animalia; Phylum Arthropoda ("Jointed Foot" - Animals with exoskeleton); Class Arachnida; Order Araneae (Spiders); Suborder Araneomorphae; Family Oxyopidae (Lynx Spiders); Genus Peucetia; Species Peucetia viridans.
- Status: Found commonly throughout Mexico and southern USA.
- Links: Peter J. Bryant ~ Random Natural Acts ~ Will Cook ~ Featured Creatures