At last, I have found a mygalomorph!!!

[MaartenSFS]

It's a very small specimen found under a rock, in a shallow, silk-lined burrow.

We found many such burrows, but only one spider. Next time I'll take some photos of the burrows.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/Veldreis%202/27.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/Veldreis%202/28.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/Veldreis%202/DSC02100.jpg

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e166/MaartenSFS/Veldreis%202/DSC02102.jpg

Does anyone have any ideas of the species? I think it's safe to say that it's a Macrothele due to the long spinnerets.

And one more thing; is it an adult or juvenile? It seems about the right size for all the burrows we found, perhaps slightly smaller.

Anyways, I just wanted to share my victory with you. Cheers. :cool:

[ErikWestblom]

Congrats man! Beautiful spider! In Sweden we only have one mygalomorph spider, Atypus affinis, and it's only found in one location and protected by law. It's about 1/2 inch as adult...

[MaartenSFS]

I think that mygalomorphs are a lot cooler than other types of spiders with their robust bodies, large chelicerae, and often armored carapace. :worship:

[venwu225]

I am lived in China, and I am brimming with jealousy....AWESOME find. Hope you give it a deserving and happy home.

[Bastian Drolshagen]

hi,
certainly no Atypus!
Take a close look at the Labium:
Many cuspules --> Hexathelidae (in your case probably a Macrothele sp.)
No cuspules --> Dipluridae

[MaartenSFS]

After some research I was not going to rule out Dipluridae because their range ALMOST extends to here on the wikipedia map and because of its small size. Is this an adult? If so, isn't it too small for a Chinese Macrothele?

[MaartenSFS]

I am lived in China, and I am brimming with jealousy....AWESOME find. Hope you give it a deserving and happy home.

You mean that you have lived in China? Where in China was this? Not everywhere over here has this many interesting animals and some places have more (I need to move there ASAP). ;)

[venwu225]

yea I lived in beijing for the first 13 years of my life. Saw lots of neat stuff in the illegal pet trade. But I am making a point to visit southern parts of China someday.

[Galapoheros]

Wow Maarten, you were serious. I didn't think you would find one. Congrates nice looking spider. I really have no idea if it will get any bigger. BUT, if I had to guess, it kind of has young look to it to me.

[jeff h]

Based on your information, your spider is 99% Macrothele, the only Hexathelidae genus recorded in China, represented by eleven described species. Hexathelids do not burrow, and intead build tubewebs and funnelwebs in pre-existing crevices and holes under rocks, logs, etc., according to Spiders of China. It seems yours was in a tubeweb.

Chinese Dipluridae are represented by a single species (Euagrus formosanus) recorded from Taiwan (and Phyxioschema from 'Central Asia') that build a funnel web.

Also, I don't think Atypus was suggested as an ID for your spider, but rather just a fact about the only mygalomorph in Sweden.;)

[MaartenSFS]

yea I lived in beijing for the first 13 years of my life. Saw lots of neat stuff in the illegal pet trade. But I am making a point to visit southern parts of China someday.

Look me up when you do come. There's a lot more down here than up there with those winters. ;)

[MaartenSFS]

Wow Maarten, you were serious. I didn't think you would find one. Congrates nice looking spider. I really have no idea if it will get any bigger. BUT, if I had to guess, it kind of has young look to it to me.

I told you that I wasn't going to give up so easily! That was my thought as well, but judging by the tubes we found I'd say they will not get MUCH bigger.

[MaartenSFS]

Based on your information, your spider is 99% Macrothele, the only Hexathelidae genus recorded in China, represented by eleven described species. Hexathelids do not burrow, and intead build tubewebs and funnelwebs in pre-existing crevices and holes under rocks, logs, etc., according to Spiders of China. It seems yours was in a tubeweb.

Chinese Dipluridae are represented by a single species (Euagrus formosanus) recorded from Taiwan (and Phyxioschema from 'Central Asia') that build a funnel web.

Also, I don't think Atypus was suggested as an ID for your spider, but rather just a fact about the only mygalomorph in Sweden.;)

They were indeed tubes and were mainly horizontal, with multiple entrance/exits, and then going down deeper. The deeper portions may or not have been made by other animals and we may or may not have lost several that ran into their underground lair. I think that it would be almost impossible to dig them out as the tunnel networks were very complex.

About the ID, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what kind of web it builds and how it catches its prey, how big it will grow, et cetera.

I reckon that, due to their secretive nature and small size, it wouldn't be impossible for it to be a new species because taxonomy in China is notoriously bad and they have a general lack of passion/work ethic. :D

[MaartenSFS]

hi,
certainly no Atypus!
Take a close look at the Labium:
Many cuspules --> Hexathelidae (in your case probably a Macrothele sp.)
No cuspules --> Dipluridae

Could you please elaborate on several terms?

What is a Labium and what are cuspules?

I would buy a book on taxonomy, but they are nearly impossible for me to get here.

[MaartenSFS]

What I like about this area is that there are plenty of things to find, but you have to really search for them. It's not as crazy as, say, Costa Rica where many things just fall into your lap. Sure, there is some of that here, but to find the really cool things you'll need to hunt hard and the experience was rewarding. I honestly think that there is a lot more to find and there are better, more remote places to go than I went to.

[MaartenSFS]

I've think we can rule out Nemesiidae as well, though they are well-represented here.

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=109567&highlight=Macrothele

After reading this thread I'm crossing my fingers that it's a juvenile. :drool:

[ErikWestblom]

Also, I don't think Atypus was suggested as an ID for your spider, but rather just a fact about the only mygalomorph in Sweden.;)

Indeed Jeff :) Really jealous that the warmer parts of the world gets so awesome spiders!

[Bastian Drolshagen]

hi,
Nemesiidae can be ruled out bcos of the elongated spinnerets.
Only 3 mygalomorph families show this feature:
Dipluridae
Hexathelidae
Mecicobothriidae

Mecicobothriidae certainly do not occur in your area.

As described: Hexathelidae & Dipluridae can be distinguished by looking at the labium.
The labium is the part between chelicerae and sternum (ventral part of prosoma). If there are cuspules (little conical spines) then it´s a Hexathelidae, otherwise a Dipluridae (at least in ur case - 1 exception from chile).

[Randolph XX()]

my guess would be macrothele as well, the one often export from ur area are about 10-12 cm legspan, not as large as M.gigas, but still impressive
good luck on raising it! and remember it will probably take quite few yrs to reach maturity if it is Macrothele

[Bastian Drolshagen]

hi,
I also think it´s a Macrothele sp. but u don´t know it for sure unless u checked it ;)

[MaartenSFS]

I ruled out Nemesiidae for the same reason. I'll have to get a close look at the ventral side, but it's difficult because of the small size. I also think that it's Macrothele, but I want to be 100% possitive. After we can be sure of this, how do we get a species ID? I realise this may be difficult to impossible from here.

If that is the case, Randolph, how long would it take to reach sexual maturity?

So far the spider has not dug a burrow. I poked a small depression into the substrate and put several twigs and a small leaf over it and the spider set up shoppe there overnight and also strung silk all around the edges of the container. Last night nothing really changed. I threw a fly in its web but it did not take it and the dead fly is still hanging there.

Edit: It actually made a new tunnel under the other side of the pinecone I put in there and moved there.

[Randolph XX()]

first of all, I m wondering how much expereience do u have in keeping spiders?


from ur description, i start to doubt ur capibility to keep this animal till it reach its maturity

wc feeders is always no good, and plz recunstruct the shape also the depth of the burrow as much like their OG habitat as possible

unless u can make sure it is pesticide/parasite free, never feed ur animals
and how much do u plan to feed it?and wat do u think u should feed it?
feeding it whenever it takes is consider as power feeding, which make them grow faster as well as shorten the lifespan and all the other problems occur, ex, possibly bad moult, bad eggs. and single pry items are limited varieties are not as ideal as well

also, wondering about ur terrarium too, enough vent?good humidity? similar temp and temp drop at night?

ther are a lot to consider, and remember to pull the dead fly away in case of it getting mouldy

macrothele are prone to die from fungi infestion

from My experience and wat i heard from other hobbyists regards to M.gigas, the very first batch of CB 2002 are not even mature yet in captivity


i guess the first thing u need to do is to read some basic guidelines of how to keep spiders in captivity

[MaartenSFS]

first of all, I m wondering how much expereience do u have in keeping spiders?


from ur description, i start to doubt ur capibility to keep this animal till it reach its maturity

wc feeders is always no good, and plz recunstruct the shape also the depth of the burrow as much like their OG habitat as possible

unless u can make sure it is pesticide/parasite free, never feed ur animals
and how much do u plan to feed it?and wat do u think u should feed it?
feeding it whenever it takes is consider as power feeding, which make them grow faster as well as shorten the lifespan and all the other problems occur, ex, possibly bad moult, bad eggs. and single pry items are limited varieties are not as ideal as well

also, wondering about ur terrarium too, enough vent?good humidity? similar temp and temp drop at night?

ther are a lot to consider, and remember to pull the dead fly away in case of it getting mouldy

macrothele are prone to die from fungi infestion

from My experience and wat i heard from other hobbyists regards to M.gigas, the very first batch of CB 2002 are not even mature yet in captivity


i guess the first thing u need to do is to read some basic guidelines of how to keep spiders in captivity

Thank you for being so positive. How do we learn? By experience and the experience of others. I am doing both, which is a hell of a lot better than just flying blind. Also, I stand behind my intentions. That said, no, I don't have much experience - hence my many questions.

The substrate and prey are all collected on-site. If it can survive where I found it, in its natural habitat, then it must be good enough.

I don't think that you understand my situation. I can't buy any feeder crickets because there is no one that keeps exotic pets and the only reason I can buy these terrariums is because there is an exotic fish industry. I am still undecided on which feeder insects I will breed and possibly multiple species to mix up their diet. I decided to keep the fly in a little longer to see if it will still eat it. It was still wriggling around 24:00 last night.

I keep humidity high by putting my finger in the substrate several times a day and misting when necessary. Since I caught them myself I am the one that knows what the situation in their natural habitat is. I feed them once or twice per week and they don't take food more than that, as I have found. I prefer to let them get hungry and watch a good show around every four to five days.

I respect your experience and hope that you will continue to use it in a constructive manner and not judge me, but help me, as I'm sure that my goal is one and the same with most here.