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Habronattus sp. - adult female

Found this Habronattus female while doing fieldwork awhile back, but was putting off photographing her because the first time I tried she was just awful - Popcorn would be a more cooperative photo subject! It still took me over 600 shots to get a few I was happy with; I have so many good poses with poor focus, but I was determined to get good shots and finally got a few I was happy with.

 

She was in such a strange place; a gravel bar in the middle of Tyner Creek (the type locality of the salamander I'm working on, Eurycea tynerensis); the rocks there were so wet she couldn't jump more than a couple centimeters, but that didn't stop her from trying. I've never seen a Jumper who lived up to the name so constantly!

 

Females of this genus are very difficult to identify to species level, unless found with a male. My most likely guess is H. coecatus, but I will refrain from calling it that for certain.

 

Nikkor 18-55 reversed (at ~18mm), Nikon SB-400 and folding diffuser, homemade flash bracket.

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If you haven't seen it yet, check out Thomas Shahan's (Opo Terser's) Interview from the Today Show (NBC), which I uploaded to Youtube. It aired October 23.

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Uploaded on November 7, 2009
Taken on November 6, 2009