Unknown Spider in Garage - Callobius

Moved

… Mandy Howe, 12 September, 2011 - 4:47am

Just Curious

Is this the type of spider you think it is? Callobius severus. Because it certainly looks a lot like your spider only its female? So, i was just curious what you thought. Heres a website with pictures of it.
http://www.nwspiders.org/callobius.severus.html

Ellen Walden

… Ellen Walden, 27 February, 2006 - 1:46am

Sheesh! Just when we had the

Sheesh! Just when we had the mystery "solved," you throw this monkey wrench into it! :)

You're right, Ellen, those photos look an awful lot like "my" spider -- more so than the other photos I had seen. I think you're right! Good call.

Steve

… Mad Pick, 4 March, 2006 - 1:26pm

I found a couple of these too...

I have found these in my bathroom sink both times. One was living in the overflow-hole, the other just hanging out in the middle of the basin. A little startling first thing in the morning! We also live in the Seattle area (40 min southeast).

… Nikoal Neidermeyer, 13 June, 2005 - 6:02pm

Thank you!

Thanks for all of the help. Based on what you told me, and some web-searching, I'm guessing that it's Amaurobius ferox. Some photos of this spider:

http://website.lineone.net/~ian.pembroke/new_page_53.htm
http://nafoku.de/spinnen/amaurobiidae/01041538.htm
http://www.oeko-msc.de/AMAUROBIUS-FEROX.JPG

And lastly, I found it listed on the "Checklist of the Spiders of Washington" (state):

http://www.tardigrade.org/natives/crawford/checklist.html

This is my first attempt to identify a spider, and first serious attempt to identify any kind of "bug." It's been interesting and fun!!

Any comments/confirmation/denial would be welcome.

… Mad Pick, 7 July, 2004 - 9:24pm

Amaurobiid

No common name for this critter, but quite sure it is in the family Amaurobiidae. I grew up in Portland, Oregon and these spiders were common there, residing in virtually any crevice and spinning a haphazard, loose, sheet-like web, spreading out from a tunnel-like retreat where the spider lives. The silk is not sticky, but "fluffy," and charged with static electricity that helps to entangle various insects. I hope "Atomic Spider" can chime in with more info:-)

… Eric R. Eaton, 7 July, 2004 - 1:13am

Possible

trapdoor spider but not likely since they dont climb walls and since the jaws appear to be below the face not extending outward from the face ( suborder Orthognatha ) Whatever it is, it's definitely wounded...if not dead. Another more likely possibility; a large Gnaphosid. ( Gnaphosa muscorum )

… Tom Adams, 6 July, 2004 - 8:43pm

It lives!

Thanks for the comment, Tom. Trust me, this guy is alive and well . . . which is why my wife is entering the house through the front door rather than the garage! :)

I'm hoping to identify it so I can prove to her that it's harmless and can continue living . . . .

… Mad Pick, 6 July, 2004 - 8:45pm

It may be alive, but,

it's not well. It's definitely exuding body fluid. The left first leg is retracted probably because of injury to the coxa / trochanter. I can see a drop of fluid there. and more by the jaw/pedipalp.

… Tom Adams, 6 July, 2004 - 8:55pm

It's harmless

I have handled large Gnaphosids ( bare-handed ) They are nocturnal hunters.

… Tom Adams, 6 July, 2004 - 8:52pm

Thanks, Tom

Thanks for your time and expertise. In case you're interested, here's a link to another picture that shows his "face" a little better:

http://img10.exs.cx/img10/5742/Spider_2.jpg

… Mad Pick, 6 July, 2004 - 9:10pm

Expertise?

Just tease, NOT exper-tease.

… Tom Adams, 7 July, 2004 - 10:09am

excellent image

close enough to count the claws ( two ) This he is likely a she. And by golly, it is an Amaurobid! The eye arrangement confirms. I have handled this spider bare-handed as well. A large female as I recall from a large sheet web amid rotting logs. But that was many years ago. In fact it, it looked just like this one. Perhaps this species is coast to coast in temperate America. Thanks Eric for the correction.

… Tom Adams, 6 July, 2004 - 9:28pm