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Shahan Derkarabetian @sderkarabetian.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

New paper, accepted. Open access. Metazoan UCEs, plus other things like pairwise comparisons of 21 probe sets across 58 genomes and divergence times. Huge group effort on this! doi.org/10.1093/gbe/...

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Reposted by Shahan Derkarabetian

Marshal Hedin @mhedin.bsky.social · 26/02/2025

Spider Biology Field Course!! from July 1 - 9, 2025 experience the outstanding biodiversity of spiders and non-spider arachnids found in montane southeastern AZ; taught by Greta Binford, Paula Cushing, & Marshal Hedin $946 for tuition, room & board. See www.amnh.org/research/sou... for details.

amnh.org

Advanced Courses for Biologists, Researchers, Naturalists | AMNH

Further your knowledge and skills with advanced courses for biologists, researchers, professionals and experienced naturalists in a stunning biodiverse setting.

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Reposted by Shahan Derkarabetian

Marshal Hedin @mhedin.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

welcome to the world new spider genus Siskiyu. you've been lurking in the dark, magical woods of far northern California for millenia. Now the humans have finally gotten around to telling your story, at least in part this research was funded by the NSF OA here zookeys.pensoft.net/article/1402...

a pale, elegant long-legged spider, with whispy silk, under a stone

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Reposted by Shahan Derkarabetian

Marc A. Milne @forthespiders.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Sci-comm at its finest! @sderkarabetian.bsky.social and I just published a systematic study of arachnids in the Magic: The Gathering card game @mtgarena.com. We discuss classification and evolution of spiders across the multiverse. Check it out here: virginianaturalhistorysociety.com/wp-content/u...

virginianaturalhistorysociety.com

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Shahan Derkarabetian @sderkarabetian.bsky.social · 02/03/2024

Opilioacarida! Mites that kind of look like Opiliones (hence the name). Found all over tropical and subtropical habitats worldwide, poorly studied. These were the first I've ever seen alive! From south of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico. This is Neocarus bajacalifornicus.

A macro photo of a small mite, facing right. The body color is light grey. Its front pair of legs are elongate and pointing forward like antennae. It is walking on a rock.

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Shahan Derkarabetian @sderkarabetian.bsky.social · 17/12/2023

Phrynus asperatipes from south of La Paz, Baja California Sur. This was the first amblypygid I've ever seen in the wild! Second photo is a a full body shot that shows the first pair of legs that are sensory in function and give them the name "whip scorpions"

A macro photo of an amblypygid. The photo is a closeup of the front of the body showing the face and pedipalps. The body is light tan / brown with some patches of darker pigment on the body.

This photo shows the whole body. The first pair of legs are thin and antennae-like, being waved in the air. It is sitting on a rock.

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Shahan Derkarabetian @sderkarabetian.bsky.social · 28/10/2023

#Arachtober Cardwella atar (family Assamiidae), from northern Queensland. The males of this species have this spiny hook on the fourth leg. #Opiliones

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Shahan Derkarabetian @sderkarabetian.bsky.social · 25/10/2023

#Arachtober Bogania advena from Queensland. Found in a woody debris-covered rock pile at the base of a large eucalyptus tree. The bright yellow spot is the ozopore, the opening for the chemical defense gland. #Opiliones

A macro photo of an Opiliones, facing right. The body color is largely orange, with some patches of darker brown. It is walking on a rock.

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Shahan Derkarabetian @sderkarabetian.bsky.social · 21/10/2023

#Arachtober Scorpion face. Lychas variatus from southern Queensland.

A macro photo of the front of a scorpion, looking down onto it at 3/4 perspective. Its base color is yellow-orange and it has brown marbled pigmentation pattern. It's looking right at you.

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Shahan Derkarabetian @sderkarabetian.bsky.social · 14/10/2023

#Arachtober The face of a huntsman spider (Sparassidae, Heteropodinae) from northern Queensland, AUS. There were a lot of these out at night and all were quite photogenic.

A macro photo of a spider's face. The spider is brownish-purple, with lighter tan stripes. Its face has a bit more color, the fangs have a blue tinge to them and the eyes are highlighted by a reddish brown. The spider is staring the camera head-on, and is sitting on a leaf.

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Shahan Derkarabetian @sderkarabetian.bsky.social · 05/10/2023

One of the coolest looking spiders I saw in Queensland AUS (which is saying a lot) was this Ornodolomedes (Pisauridae) guarding her egg sac. Seen during a rainforest night walk in Crater Lakes NP. Amazing colors on this one. #Arachtober

A macro photo of a spider hanging in between a couple thin plant stems against a black background. The spider is a mix of colors, greens, browns, and yellows. Tucked underneath its legs is an egg sac.

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Shahan Derkarabetian @sderkarabetian.bsky.social · 01/10/2023

It's #Arachtober !! To start off, this is an undescribed species in an undescribed genus of Triaenonychidae from northern Queensland, AU. We (@invertebrained and I) found only two at this site, they were a bit hard to find.

A macro photo of a spiny harvester. It is facing to the left. The body is mostly dark grey-brown, with some hints of orange towards the front. The tips of the spines turn into a more bold orange yellow color. It is sitting on a piece of wood.

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Shahan Derkarabetian @sderkarabetian.bsky.social · 28/08/2023

During fieldwork in Tasmania earlier this year, found this velvet worm, Tasmanipatus barretti, in one of the best woodpiles I've ever looked through. Seems a little shy. A rare species, listed as vulnerable. With permit. What a pleasure seeing this. Northeastern Tasmania.

A macro photo of a velvet worm. It is a light tan/grey color, facing left. Is is on a piece of wood tucked into a little gap. The body is covered with little bumps and you can make out a very small eye.

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Shahan Derkarabetian @sderkarabetian.bsky.social · 19/08/2023

Hello Bluesky! Do you like Opiliones? I post (mostly) Opiliones, my macro photos, and research. I’m an arachnologist, systematist, and evolutionary biologist. Expert in Opiliones. (soon to be) Curator of Entomology at the San Diego Natural History Museum. Also, Opiliones.

A macro photo of an Opiliones facing left, the view is from the side. The Opiliones is orange-yellow and brown. It is generally oddly-shaped, with large tubercles on its body and small spines on the appendages. The most striking feature is its eyemound which is rather elongate and pointing forward. It is sitting on a piece of wood and the background is black.

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