ID please

[waldo]

I found this little gal in the middle of a dirt road while on a walk. I think its a purse web or funnel web type but what kind? I live in North Idaho, she is dark grey/black and about 3/4"

What is a good way to keep her? right now she is in a small kk with damp peat and a pile of latge orchid bark to hide in and a small water dish. She alread took a cricket.

Another thing I though was strange, she played dead! curled right up and stopped moving until I left her alone for a bit. Very cool little spider.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/waldo_20012001/bugs/DSC01133.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/waldo_20012001/bugs/DSC01134.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/waldo_20012001/bugs/DSC01135.jpg

[beetleman]

wow:eek: way cool,yeah you got her setup right,hmm don't know the exact sp. though:wall:

[KUJordan]

cool spider! probably a Sphodros sp. (purseweb). Are you sure it's a girl? I only ask because it is very rare to see females of any fossorial spider to be "out and about."

[8+)]

I believe this is a trapdoor. The chelae don't look large enough to me to be a purse web.

You're right about it being strange to be out in the open. Perhaps it got displaced somehow, and went searching for a new location?

To me it looks to be either a juvenile, or a female, as I would think mature males would be more gangly. Can't see the palps, though...

I would set it up with 5"+ of moist coco fiber, or one of the mixes people have posted here for trapdoors and make a good starter hole for her; one big enough for her to fit into.

[waldo]

I'm not sure on the sex but it looks like a female to me, no boxing gloves on the peds. but it could be a immature male.

[waldo]

I don't think its a trap door, the chelae are larger then they appear in the pics.
I rehomed her into a gallon jar with lots of peat so she can burrow to her hearts content. I should have gotten more pics since I will probably never see her again LOL.

[Blaster]

I should have gotten more pics since I will probably never see her again LOL.

Haha, who knows... But to me this lil' spidey looks like a trapdoor too. Good luck with him/her anyway. :)
Matthew.

[waldo]

Yeah, after some more research I'm leaning toward trapdoor too. I just sent to pics to a entomologist at the U of Idaho, maybe he can give me a species ID at least.
I suppose in time though, I will be able to tell depending on the type of home she builds.

[Blaster]

I suppose in time though, I will be able to tell depending on the type of home she builds.

Yup, that'll be for sure a good hint. And when You'll know the species or something about the spider, don't hesitate to share the info with us. ;-)

[8+)]

I should have gotten more pics since I will probably never see her again LOL.

I see mine every time I feed them, a la the "Pop Goes The Spider" (http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=90407&highlight=pop+goes+the+spider) vid I posted. :D I'm sure they vary with how shy they are, though.

Yeah, keep us informed, and good luck with her!

[lucanidae]

The anterodorsal tergite tells you it is a Atypidae, the location tells you it is genus Sphodros. Ctenizidae 'trapdor spiders' don't have the any tergites.

[8+)]

So KUJordan was right. Still learning...:)

[Blaster]

Ah... Yeah, after googling some Sphodros spp. pics it really looks like one of those. Well, all these trapdoor-looking spiders look the same to me. Unfortunately I'm not very into them. Maybe someday... :)
Greets, Matthew.

[waldo]

It also looks similiar to a Hexura sp. which are also in this area, they are a type of sheet or funnel web. What ever she may be it will be neat to watch her.