Spider Identification

[Jan Bosselaers]

Dear Lynn,

This spider does not look like one of the few really dangerous spiders
in the US, e.g. Latrodectus or Loxosceles species. A size indication and
more detailed photographs of the cephalothorax and spinneret region
would be most helpful for identification. Identification from the
present photograph is tricky, but my guess is that the specimen either
belongs to the family Amaurobiidae (it could be Coras medicinalis or
Coras juvenilis) or to the family Agelenidae, genus Tegenaria. There is
one Tegenaria species, Tegenaria agrestis (the "Hobo spider"), which is
very docile in Europe but has been reported to administer necrotic bites
in the US. It is impossible to tell with certainty from your photograph
that the spider is indeed Tegenaria agrestis. Still, I would think the
chameleon poses a greater threat to the spider than vice versa.

Best regards,

Jan

>I have been sent a photograph of a spider from North America (WA, USA). It
>was found inside a house by someone who is concerned that it could be a
>danger to her chameleons or even perhaps herself.
>
>The photograph can be viewed at www.afriherp.org/spider.htm
>
>It may be possible to get more photographs if necessary.
>
>Any assistance will be much appreciated.
>
>Lynn Raw
>London, UK
>
>
>

--
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Jan Bosselaers
"Dochterland", R. novarumlaan 2
B-2340 Beerse, Belgium               tel / fax 32-14-615896
home: dochterland at pandora.be  /  hortipes at dochterland.org
work: jbossela at janbe.jnj.com
web: http://www.dochterland.org/ or http://wyith.ch/home/dochterland.org/

"You know I used to lose my mind, but now I'm old, now I'm free...
I see waves break in foams on my horizons, I'm shining..." The Chemical Brothers