This afternoon, on a Sunday hike, I had a portentous encounter with a yellow-and-black-striped spider about the size of an infant's hand!

I was sufficiently moved to do a bit of looking around arachnology websites (to find out about the brute's toxicity for one) and finally found out that the spider was a Giant Wood Spider also known as a Golden Orb Weaving Spider.

It is common here in Japan, where they call it "O-jyorou gumo" which I'm told means, roughly: "big femme fatale".

It's Latin name is Nephila clavata. It's this last that I am unsure of. Can anyone tell me what it means?

I'm guessing that "clavata" is related to the Latin "clavate" (meaning thicker at the apex than at the base) but "Nephila"? I haven't the foggiest, unless it has something to do with "nymph" ?

Thanks.

Last edited by Homo Loquens; 10/09/05 03:43 PM.