spider - Cicurina robusta

Moved

Kevin, it sure looks like a match to me. I have her saved for you to confirm under a microscope, along with the other recent spiders I collected.

… tom murray, 4 December, 2009 - 7:28am

Cicurina robusta (Dictynae)

Well, that makes things certainly interesting -- look at those copulatory tubes. I count at least two anterior loops.

Tom, can you save these two specimens? (My turn to pay the postage.)

I was originally thinking Cybaeidae, but now I suspect that this is a Cicurina species.

Take a look at Eric's recent images (in particular, the epigynae):

Within the limitations of what one can see in the epigynal view, one could possibly make the case for C. ~~arcuata~~ robusta (using Paquin & Dupérré for reference).

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 4 December, 2009 - 3:38am

Awesome

Kevin to the rescue! Nice work. I'm really glad that you're good at the epigyne/palp stuff. They are pretty difficult for me...especially the palps. The palps are overwhelming. But like in the discussion earlier, I know I should check out a cheap 'starter' microscope. I bet that'll help me get more comfortable with them.

… Mandy Howe, 5 December, 2009 - 3:11am

In any event, a look at the v

In any event, a look at the ventral side (epigyne) and the lateral view of the male's palp would be helpful.

-Kevin

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 30 November, 2009 - 11:04am

Close ups added

I added detailed shots of the epigyne and the spinnerets.

… tom murray, 3 December, 2009 - 10:36pm

Ventral epigyne

Should I put this one in alcohol for the ventral shot, or should I try to feed her and make sure it's mature?
The male died a few hours after I had it, so he's saved in alcohol now.

… tom murray, 30 November, 2009 - 6:08pm

I'm fairly certain that she i

I'm fairly certain that she is mature.

-Kevin

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 1 December, 2009 - 12:26am

male immature

In my experience the more immature a spider is, the harder it is to keep it in captivity. Rod told me to keep a damp tissue in with them.

… Lynette Elliott, 30 November, 2009 - 8:31pm

Well

it looks related to this one you posted

I wonder if they could be Tegenaria, though that doesn't really look right to me.

… Lynette Elliott, 30 November, 2009 - 9:31am

No, I think this is something

No, I think this is something in the Amaurobidae (but not sure what). I've been waiting in the hope that Mandy or someone else will do the hard work and get this down to genus. ;-) But no luck so far -- maybe it's my turn. :-/

Seems a little "Cora-like" to me, but not Cora, I think.

-K

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 30 November, 2009 - 10:42am

Yes I agree with that

and I often have a hard time telling Coras eyes from Tegenaria eyes, so that makes sense.

… Lynette Elliott, 30 November, 2009 - 3:07pm

You all probably already know...

...but I think Coras was originally a genus made for a species of Tegenaria medicinalis(?), way back in 1898 or something. That's just a little note I wrote to myself in SONA. Everything has no doubt changed since then, but that could account for some of the similarities between the now separated genera. (?)

I have a few theories that I secretly use to decide which is which when there are no chances of epigyne or palp inspections. I won't share them, as they truly are useless. Another one of my 'kindergarten keys'...lol!! (a joke my sister and I have based on many of my 'unsound scientific theories')

… Mandy Howe, 4 December, 2009 - 3:30am

Well

we certainly share our Kindergarten Keys here. When all you have is a dorsal image of a spider, Kindergarten Keys are sometimes the only ones that work!

… Lynette Elliott, 4 December, 2009 - 9:22am

My silly key

I'm already feeling embarrassed for sharing this, lol, but: Coras: shiny & reflective, and more red than brown. Tegenaria: dull & matte, more brown than red. See, that's why its my kindergarten key. And it's mainly pretty flawed, too. Only works sometimes on adults... probably the worst rule of thumb ever, but I seem to get lucky with it enough times that I keep using it. lol!

… Mandy Howe, 5 December, 2009 - 2:32am

I like it!

see comments here.

… Lynette Elliott, 5 December, 2009 - 10:28am