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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Chelicerates (Chelicerata) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » Mygalomorphs (Mygalomorphae) » False Tarantulas (Nemesiidae) » Calisoga
Photo#380483
Female Burrowing Wolf Spider? - Calisoga
Copyright © 2010 stacbing

Female Burrowing Wolf Spider? - Calisoga
Chico, Butte County, California, USA
March 29, 2010
Size: 3/4 inch
We found this on our front porch. My father-in-law suggests it is a burrowing wolf spider. We have seen traditional-looking wolf spiders in our area, with spindle-like legs and brown on the sides of their abdomen, this one doesn't look like the ones we find in our house. I think it looks like a baby tarantula, but my fil says they aren't really common to the area. My picture is too bit, but it really is lovely. http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y111/stacbing/003-1.jpg
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Contributed by stacbing on 29 March, 2010 - 10:35pm
Last updated 30 March, 2010 - 9:13am

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Lynette Elliott, 30 March, 2010 - 9:13am login or register to post comments

This just in...
Spider plans trip to Vegas, takes own dice! Sorry....
… Eric R. Eaton, 29 March, 2010 - 10:53pm login or register to post comments

 
Ha ha
I can appreciate a good joke! Without the die, though, this spider looks like a monster. The die puts the size into perspective.
… stacbing, 29 March, 2010 - 11:05pm login or register to post comments

 
Let's just hope...
that's not a Claes Oldenburg sculpture
… Chuck Entz, 29 March, 2010 - 11:53pm login or register to post comments

I believe this is a Calisoga
They are a trapdoor spider in the nemesiidae family and are very closely related to tarantulas. They live only in California, where they are common. They're not dangerous, but if you handle it roughly, it could bite in self-defense. Here are other images of them: http://bugguide.net/node/view/120961/bgimage
… Mandy Howe, 29 March, 2010 - 10:42pm login or register to post comments

 
I think you are right! Some
I think you are right! Some of those pics look just like my spider. Don't worry about us handling it roughly, we are NOT handling it! The reason my fil thought it was a wolf spider was in his books he read a description about the black hairs on the legs (which we really didn't notice until I took some macro pics of it).

It really is a pretty spider -- it looks like it would feel very soft -- but I am not going to see! We are going to relseas it tomorrow.
… stacbing, 29 March, 2010 - 11:04pm login or register to post comments

 
Calisoga
I'm so happy to learn you'll be releasing the precious creature! That makes me very happy! :D

When identifying spiders, the first thing to check is usually the eyes. For the lycosidae family, which are the wolf spiders, the eyes always have this arrangement (click to enlarge images):

As you can see, there are always two big "headlight-like" eyes (with the remaining 6 eyes situated around them). That should help out with any future wolf spider identifications. :)
… Mandy Howe, 30 March, 2010 - 12:40am login or register to post comments

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