can someone identify this?

[rattler_mt]

its a find from last summer. havent gotten an answer as to what it was but its a darn big spider for north east Montana

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v673/rattler_mt/IMG_3001.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v673/rattler_mt/IMG_3000.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v673/rattler_mt/IMG_2999.jpg

[jwasted]

Not sure what it is but it is nice. Very plump lol.

[Elizabeth]

Looks very like a barn spider. Google that for lots of pics/variants. This site has a latin name attached: Araneas cavaticus.

http://www.spiderroom.info/va_barnspider.html

If it isn't that exact one, it is probably still just another type of barnspider. Personally, I love these. That site makes it sound like they are an eastern spider, but we get similar types here in California.

Nice spider!


Added: Oops! Sorry, but this is a nicer link. I think the spellings are correct (and I doubt that the latin one above is), plus it lists a few other latin names for barn spiders, next to pics.

http://entomology.unl.edu/images/spiders/spiders2.htm

[NRF]

You could also try to google on Araneus bicentenarius. I'm not familiar with this species but it seem to be one with hairless abdomen as yours (I mean your spider's :) )

[OldHag]

We have somewhat the same Araneus around here. Some yellower some dark brown. We always called them CatFaced spiders. Cool orb weavers anyway