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Thyene imperialis (Salticidae)
One of the many jumper spiders we have shot, which is very difficult to be identified. We believe the animal in these photos to be a female; their colour varies to this of the males of the species.
The photos show the spider attacking another spider (first couple of photos, in the first one the victim can be seen in the upper part of the photo) killing a much larger grasshopper (photos 3-5) and guarding its offspring. It should be noted that this spider feeds on smaller spiders.
It was remarkable to see this spider holding the much larger grasshopper and dragging it up to the leaf it was standing. In the photos of the nest the adult spider guards the young (first photo), some of the little spiders below the adult - although a bit out of focus (second photo) and a youngster taking a walk (last photo). The youngsters were really tiny and focusing on them proved to be quite a task.
Photos by Mahi Goula and George Parchas
Shooting Data:
1. Camera: Canon EOS 5D MarkII
Lens: Canon EF 180mmf/3.5L USM Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/160 sec - f/11, Manual mode
Flash: Canon 580EX II
Image: RAW edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.
2. Camera: Canon EOS 5D MarkII
Lens: Canon EF 180mmf/3.5L USM Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 200
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/160 sec - f/11, Manual mode
Flash: Canon 580EX II
Image: RAW edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.
3. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 180mmf/3.5L USM Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/250 sec - f/13, Manual mode
Flash: Canon 580EX II
Image: RAW edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.
4. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 180mmf/3.5L USM Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/500 sec - f/13, Manual mode
Flash: Canon 580EX II
Image: RAW edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.
5. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 180mmf/3.5L USM Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/500 sec - f/13, Manual mode
Flash: Canon 580EX II
Image: RAW edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.
6. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 180mmf/3.5L USM Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/250 sec - f/8, Manual mode
Flash: Canon 580EX II
Image: RAW edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.
7. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 180mmf/3.5L USM Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/250 sec - f/8, Manual mode
Flash: Canon 580EX II
Image: RAW edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized.
8. Camera: Canon EOS 7D
Lens: Canon EF 180mmf/3.5L USM Macro 1:1
Sensitivity: ISO 100
Shutter speed - aperture: 1/250 sec - f/8, Manual mode
Flash: Canon 580EX II
Image: RAW edited in Photoshop CS4, levels adjusted, sharpening added saved as JPEG and resized. | 
