sunburn

My son found a strange looking spider of the sofa yesterday. At 1st we didnt think it was a 'proper' spider as it looked like it had pincers at the front but it had 8 legs and a segmented body. Looked it up on the w.w.web ha ha but buggered if I know what it is...any clues ? After just 3 weeks and 2 curious young lads everything is suspect!
PS found it in VIC, bayside.

markandgill

It's hard to be sure from your pics, and i'm no expert, but it looks kinda ressembles a white-tail......was there a pale, white , mark on its abdomen? If it is a white tail it's not gonna kill you.....but it will give you a nasty bite.......Definately keep the kids away from it, they are known to cause severe ulcers and necrosis of the skin/flesh.

As I said, I'm no expert so if in doubt don't mess with it.

sunburn

Have had another good check on the web and a spider book we bought here. Its body looks similar to a white-tail although no white tail and its front legs appeared more like pincers but were definitely legs, oh and it jumped

After keeping it under a glass to try & identify and probably well pi## it off !
it went out on the street. The way I see it is it was here 1st so I'd rather not squash everything friend or foe without knowing.

bridie

could it be one of these?

http://museumvictoria.com.au/spiders/detail.aspx?id=18

Maybe a baby one if it's only small...?

bridie

or these if it jumped?

http://museumvictoria.com.au/spiders...spx?id=7&pic=0

sunburn

I doubt it, wasn't stocky like the funnel-web, thats a real good site i have used before.

Found a different one in the bathroom last night too, much to the entertainment of the little ones at shower-time. From what I know its the smaller ones are more dangerous but then they can be so small its fangs can't pierce your skin.

if in doubt get em out I reckon!

alipally

ArrrrgggggHhhhhhh!!

Just looked at this and have realised that I've killed TWO funnel web spiders when I was in QLD during August (Airlie Beach to be precise!) they weren't together but they did both wander into the bathroom... the blurb that come with it said that the males go looking for females in the winter... and wonder into houses!
Strangely I just got my flip flop and bashed them... no panic or fear... they are only little things!
Ali x

sel

I reckon your right bridie ... the shape of the thorax, abdomen etc all point to it being a jumping spider

http://www.xs4all.nl/~ednieuw/austra...alticidae.html

Timber Floor Au

Least it wasnt one of these !

SPINY SPIDER - Gasteracantha fornicata - Cairns Australia

MoneyPenny is the spider expert