Snake, spyder and ammo

[Alfredo]

…seems like an horrible place, actually is a wonderful small "canyon", you may walk for 1,5 km, really funny


The inhabitants, salamandra

Natrix natrix, a young one (more or less 40 cm), I liked to see the "tanatosi" phenomenon, but it was so pretty that I leave it for his business


unknow spyder...

ammo from (I guess) WWI, near to my Military BG-42 CF

Ciao,
Alfredo

 

[johnnythefox]

thanks for the pics,i would keep well clear of that old ammo it maybe very unstable.

 

[Harvestman]

Dunno where in the world you are, and my expertise expires at the UK border, but I'd say the spider was a species of Pisaura, possibly Pisaura mirabilis the nursery-web spider. The pale stripe on the carapace, pointed abdomen and leg stance (those on the left of the spider, right of the picture anyway) are distinctive. I saw one myself today, only mine was greyer. Very nice large spider, related to the raft spiders.

Good pics, thanks for sharing.

 

[Alfredo]

Tnx a lot, guys.

@harvestman: I'm from Italy. Do you mean like this, isn't? Any reason for this original leg stance? Thanks for pointing me on the right direction



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[Galemys]

Nice pic´s again Alfredo!

`tanatosi` means playing dead?

Cheers,

Tom

 

[Harvestman]

Tnx a lot, guys.

@harvestman: I'm from Italy. Do you mean like this, isn't? Any reason for this original leg stance? Thanks for pointing me on the right direction



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That's the one! Glorious picture of Pisaura mirabilis. I've no idea why they stand that way, with the front 2 pairs of legs held together as if they have 6 legs instead of 8 (actually, just to be confusing, the one in your picture has 7), but they do, and it is distinctive. It is helpful for identification, because the markings and colouration are extremely variable. Only the central pale stripe on the head/thorax seems constant.

 

[Husky]

Lovely pictures, very exotic!
I saw the same salamanders in Kosovo, and actually the same ammo to...
Thanks for posting!

 

[Alfredo]

Nice pic´s again Alfredo!

`tanatosi` means playing dead?

Cheers,

Tom

Yeah. They playing dead if disturbed...a good defense tactic vs. predators like fox or others mammals (not againts birds I'm afraid).

 

[JonathanD]

That N.natrix is a striped morph you only get in South Eastern Europe... N.natrix persa Thanks for posting it up.

 

[Alfredo]

That's the one! Glorious picture of Pisaura mirabilis. I've no idea why they stand that way, with the front 2 pairs of legs held together as if they have 6 legs instead of 8 (actually, just to be confusing, the one in your picture has 7), but they do, and it is distinctive. It is helpful for identification, because the markings and colouration are extremely variable. Only the central pale stripe on the head/thorax seems constant.

That's not my pic (just to be fair).
This Pisaura anyway also had just 7 leg instead 8 legs, maybe could be related to? Just courious.
BTW, thank you.
Ciao, Alfredo

 

[Alfredo]

Lovely pictures, very exotic!
I saw the same salamanders in Kosovo, and actually the same ammo to...
Thanks for posting!

I bet the ammo you saw where "youger" than mine...anyway horrible things equally.

 

[Alfredo]

That N.natrix is a striped morph you only get in South Eastern Europe... N.natrix persa Thanks for posting it up.

That snake had a grace on shape and moving that was just a pleasure to look at. It's my fav snake here around.

 

[JonathanD]

That snake had a grace on shape and moving that was just a pleasure to look at. It's my fav snake here around.

You're lucky, it's the most beautiful of the Natrix sub-species. Ours lacks the primary dorsal grid and yellow stripes running down it. It just has the black and yellow collar and lower black dorsal markings. It's also a darker olive green and lacks the brightness and light shades that the persa has.

 

[Husky]

I bet the ammo you saw where "youger" than mine...anyway horrible things equally.

Actually, I have found stuff with the eagle and swastika on it. It's amazing how much live ordnance is still laying around.
War should be illegal on that account alone but as an ex. EOD I can't help being thrilled by that kind of historic finds. A work injury I suppose.

 

[Harvestman]

That's not my pic (just to be fair).
This Pisaura anyway also had just 7 leg instead 8 legs, maybe could be related to? Just courious.
BTW, thank you.
Ciao, Alfredo

The seven legs thing just means they had lost one to a predator. They don't always grow back.