This large spider (about 8cms in diameter including legs) was noted on four separate occasions, all in areas very close to live vegetation. In Wadi Hamra it climbed into one of our supply boxes overnight and was found in the morning, while in Karkur Ibrahim it was noted scavenging on the ground in the early evening, where Gryllus bimaculatus was noted at the same general location / time. Several individuals were noted in the southern branch of Karkur Talh during the evenings, a juvenile (about 4cm accross) was photographed. Several individuals, including a juvenile no more than 1cm accross stalking a small moth was noted inside the green Crotalaria thebaica shrubs in Wadi Handal.

Note: the species was formerly identified as Sparassus dufouri, however the genus is now deprecated, Eusparassus (Simon 1903) is used. The genus underwent a major revision recently (Moradmand, 2013) with a number on new species named, E. laevatus appears to be the best fit for the Gilf - Uweinat specimens (though Moradmand identifies a specimen collected by the Belgian expedition at Uweinat as E. walckenaeri)

Wadi Hamra 28th March, 2000 (approx. 8am)		Karkur Ibrahim 28th October, 2003 (approx. 8pm)		Karkur Talh,18th March, 2007 (approx. 8pm)
Wadi Handal, 23rd October, 2007 (approx. 6pm)

Karkur Talh, 15th March, 2019 (approx. 8am)