A spider that’s just shed its skin. The discarded spider skin is almost transparent.

Did You Know…? When a spider grows it forms a new, soft exoskeleton beneath the current, hard outer skin. Enzymes dissolve the layer between the spider’s current skin and the rest of the body, although sensory nerves are kept attached until the last moment.

With this stage complete, the spider sheds its current skin and stretches the new soft layer to allow for new growth.
The uppermost layer of the epidermis then dies and consequently hardens to protect the spider’s body.

During the regeneration process missing limbs can be renewed, although a new limb will be smaller at first. A further shedding of spider skin will restore the growth to a perceivably normal length.

Exif Data
Focal Length: 4.1mm
Exposure Time: 1/125s
Flash: Off
F-Number: F4.0
ISO: 80
Metering Mode: Matrix
White Balance: Auto
Post Production: cropped & sharpened