Fiona Cross
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drspidernz.bsky.social
Fiona Cross
@drspidernz.bsky.social
2.6K followers 91 following 110 posts
Arachnologist at University of Canterbury, New Zealand. Spider cognition, SciComm, and writer 🕷 #LoveSpiders
www.doctorspider.net
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drspidernz.bsky.social
Fiona Cross @drspidernz.bsky.social · Nov 16
Hello to all my new followers! I'm an Arachnologist with a background in Psychology - I'm an expert on spider cognition! 🕷 For more information on my work, check out my website www.doctorspider.net
Fiona Cross - Spider Cognition — Home
Website of Dr. Fiona Cross ("Doctor Spider") - Welcome! I am an expert on spider cognition. I use jumping spiders to investigate topics that include search images, planning, expectancy violation and n...
www.doctorspider.net
Reposted by Fiona Cross
mphilipp.bsky.social
Recruiting a PhD student to join us at Univ Canterbury (Christchurch, NZ) to study how people perceive animal minds & how those perceptions shape moral concern, behaviour, & policy. Scholarship info:
www.canterbury.ac.nz/research/abo...

Rolling review starts Dec 2025 • Flexible Feb–July 2026 start
Eastern shore of Christchurch NZ
November 19, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
ibycter.bsky.social
Habronattus borealis male, from Pomquet Beach, NS
a beautiful Paradise jumping spider, a male, overall he is dark on the body reddish on the legs and has nice frosty whitish blue palps and green eyes. He is on a rock with the blue sky behind.
November 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
drspidernz.bsky.social
Been a busy time because I've been putting together an online course on Comparative Cognition for University of Canterbury. It's launching in a week from now! courseinfo.canterbury.ac.nz/GetCourseDet...
Special Topic: Comparative Cognition
Animals are often faced with many different challenges in their everyday lives. Prey, for instance, might be difficult to find, or individuals may need to display to attract mates without also attract...
courseinfo.canterbury.ac.nz
November 2, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
amwinsor.bsky.social
If your porch lights are on this spooky season, you may be attracting spiders! 🕷️🕸️🎃 Grad student extraordinaire Wes Walsh just published his work in @animbehsociety.bsky.social . Check it out!

nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com?url=https%3A...
nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com
November 1, 2025 at 9:31 PM
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spiderdungeon.bsky.social
Inside Dewey the Jumping Spider’s head 👀🔍
October 31, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
minouette.bsky.social
Happy Halloween! Hope you are enjoying spooky season and Halloween. We made a jumping spider jack-o-lantern this year! A true collaboration: the 11yo carved the pedipalps (they look like small arms near the mouth) and I carved the 8 eyes and 8 legs. Legs are tricky!
🐡🕷️
This is our Jack-o-lantern on a table on our porch. It’s made of a large pumpkin for the abdomen of the jumping spider (from which 8 legs like wide v’s are cut and affixed with toothpicks). The head in front is a smaller pumpkin with 2 large and 2 medium circular eyes are visible. There are two smaller pairs on the sides but not visible here. Below the eyes are furry pedipalps. It’s dark and both pumpkins are lit. Same double pumpkin jumping spider jack-o-lantern but a side view so you can see the smaller eyes, the legs and the wide v holes cut in the abdomen to produce the legs
November 1, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
siouxsiew.bsky.social
Morning peeps! I’ve written a piece for @thespinoff.bsky.social on why I ended up taking legal action against my employer and a little bit about how it played out. The whole story needs a book to tell but this is a good start 😂 thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-1... thespinoff.co.nz/society/01-1...
Siouxsie Wiles: Why I’m crowdfunding despite winning my legal battle
'Between the ERA and the Employment Court, my husband and I have spent over $632,000.'
thespinoff.co.nz
October 31, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
bertonemyia.bsky.social
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! 🎃👻
Is that a pumpkin or a spider butt? The marbled #orbweaver is all decked out for fall and the spooky season (though, really, this lovely lady was very shy and harmless)!

#Araneidae: #Araneus marmoreus
#Arachtober
A large round marbled orange rump faces the camera. Radiating out from it are 8 striped legs. An orange marbled orbweaver spider sits on a white background facing the viewer. It has small eyes and spiky striped legs. An orange marbled orbweaver spider sits on a white background facing to the left. It has small eyes and spiky striped legs.
October 31, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
ajblake05.bsky.social
This one is for the Children of Time fans (scale should be about right)! Enjoy this jumping spider (Pancorius sp.) Jack-O'-lantern!! Thanks to @nickybay.bsky.social for the reference image (www.flickr.com/photos/nicka...).

#halloween #jackolantern #arachtober #jumpingspiders #salticidae
A lit jack-o'-lantern with a jumping spider design in a dark room with an orange glow. Adam holding the a lit jack-o'-lantern with a jumping spider design A unlit jack-o'-lantern with a jumping spider design. A lit jack-o'-lantern with a jumping spider design in a dark room with an orange glow from a string of pumpkin lights.
October 31, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
arachtober.bsky.social
Take it all off! - #Arachtober 31
Molting Western Spotted Orbweaver
(Neoscona oaxacensis)
#spider #macro #macrophotography #naturephotography
Macro photo of a spider hanging upside down shedding its old exoskeleton.
October 31, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
arachtober.bsky.social
I noticed a quickly shutting tiny door. I pried it open to see this set of legs. Only good shot I got. Possibly a Southwestern Trapdoor Spider (Eucteniza relata). First trapdoor spider I have found. Found in South Texas.
#Arachtober #spider #macro #macrophotography #naturephotography
Spider feet sticking out of a hole.
October 31, 2025 at 7:14 AM
drspidernz.bsky.social
I wanted to share this gorgeous little jumping spider for #Arachtober! This is a currently unnamed species of Trite that I found in Christchurch. Not normally found there. Amazing what can happen when you take the time to look 🕷 #LoveSpiders
A little jumping spider looking at the camera Side-on view of the same little jumping spider
October 31, 2025 at 6:49 AM
drspidernz.bsky.social
A podcast episode for #Arachtober! "New Zealand's Dr Fiona Cross tells a tale of two spiders: one that outsmarted its researchers and another that's mysteriously drawn to our smelly socks." Some legendary spiders, as well as my story of what inspired me to work with them 🕷 pod.link/aHR0cHM6Ly9m...
pod.link
October 27, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
arachtober.bsky.social
Wolf Momma - #Arachtober 22
(Hogna antelucana)
#spider #stereophotography #naturephotography
Stereo macro photo of a wolf spider mom carrying babies on her back.
October 23, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
nicolekearney.bsky.social
Most scientists are not great at communicating their science, says Dean Pentcheff #LivingData2025. #ScienceCommunication is effective when we use narratives. Tell your story. Then you’ll get into people’s hearts. #JaneGoodall
A photo of Jane Goodall, alongside a quote
October 22, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
arachtober.bsky.social
Phidippus arizonensis #Arachtober #spider #jumpingspider #stereopgrahy #naturemacrophotography #macrophotography
Stereo image pair of a tan jumping spider.
October 21, 2025 at 5:10 AM
drspidernz.bsky.social
It's been a lovely #Arachtober so far - sharing spider cognition research at a special Arachtober evening (where I made everyone wish each other a Happy Arachtober), plus legendary spider socks and sparkly spiders. Arachtober is the gift that keeps on giving! 🕷#LoveSpiders
Talking about amazing predators in Kenya, like lions and the legendary Portia (jumping spider) A special notice wishing everyone a Happy Arachtober - "the month of spiders. May it be a wonderful month for you!" Legendary black socks complete with a pink jumping spider A small collection of sparkly spiders
October 15, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
arachtober.bsky.social
#Arachtober 13
Crab Spider 2:1 magnification macro I shot last night. I love the depth and detail of this one. Found in South Texas, USA.
#spider #crabspider #macrophotography #naturephotography #stereogram
Stereo macro photo of a yellow crab spider.
October 14, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
arachtober.bsky.social
#Arachtober 10th is International Jumping Spider Day! Created in 2017 to show the cutest and most adorable spiders as a way for people to embrace instead of fear spiders. Started by photographer Shaham Tamir.

Bold Jumping Spider (Phidippus audax)
#JumpingSpiderDay #macro #macrophotography #spider
Jumping Spider in its shelter with its moth prey.
October 11, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
aptshadow.bsky.social
My kind of collaboration.
ankemarsh.bsky.social Dr Anke Marsh @ankemarsh.bsky.social · Oct 10
Autocorrect decided I meant co spidered, not considered. I’m not entirely sure what that means but I like it! #Arachnids #Spiders #AutocorrectWins
October 10, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
apsciencebylyn.bsky.social
He's perfect, and #Arachtober themed

Mr Phidippus cardinalis appeared this afternoon and made my day. ❤️
#EmotionalSupportSpood
Fuzzy Phidippus jumping spider with bright red uppers and black legs and dark face, a velvet ant mimic. He's on a dry leaf peering up at you Top view of the colorful lad on the leaf, peering up and away from you at something out of frame
October 4, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
arachtober.bsky.social
#Arachtober 1st - Tropical Orb Weaver (Eriophora ravilla). One of my favorites. Very common in South Texas. Can be found up the East Coast of USA down to South America. This is a stereo image. Cross your eyes for 3D. 🕷️
#spider #orbweaver #arachnid #macrophotography #naturephotography
Crossview Stereo Pair 3D macro photo of an orb weaver spider in her web.
October 2, 2025 at 1:52 AM
drspidernz.bsky.social
Ok, this is on my office door now. Wishing you all a happy #Arachtober! To learn about the history of Arachtober, check out this website Arachtober.com @arachtober.bsky.social @ashleymbradford.bsky.social #LoveSpiders
October 1, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Reposted by Fiona Cross
arachtober.bsky.social
Join us in celebrating Arachtober by sharing your #spider and other #arachnid photos all month. #Arachtober has spread around the web. We’ve created a basic site at Arachtober.com to explain what this is all about. Banner by @ashleymbradford.bsky.social, inspired by my recent linocut artwork.
Black and white line art of a jumping spider surrounded by morning glory flowers with text Arachtober 2025.
October 1, 2025 at 12:06 AM