Golden Silk Spider
| Geographical Range | Southeastern United States, West Indies, Central and South America |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Forests, woodlands, swamps, gardens |
| Scientific Name | Nephila clavipes |
| Conservation Status | Not listed by IUCN |
These spiders are easy to identify by the conspicuous tufts of "hair" on their legs. The silk in these spiders' webs is the strongest natural fiber known. In the South Pacific, fishermen have been known to combine several webs spun by cousins of the golden silk spiders for use as fishing nets!