sammyg

What is this?
We have our fair share of huntsman and wolf spiders around here but i've never seen this!! It looks EVIL up close!!

I've tried to zoom in so some of the clarity has gone....

Burbage

It's a bit difficult to say. From the way its legs are configured I'd say it's a jumping spider, but it all depends on the size of that tubing. Jumping spiders don't get very big.

Jerseygirl

How big was it?

sammyg

well that is our pool cleaner tube which is about 2.5" thick. The spider has 2 little extra bits coming out of its bottom, does that determin what sex it is?

thanks peeps

Brisben

Looks like a mouse spider, although considering how black it is it also looks like a funnelweb..

ABCDiamond

This is a Funnel web spider


Female Mouse spider


Male Eastern Mouse Spider:

asprilla

Its got the short stocky legs of a mouse spider.

But funnelwebs just love falling into swimming pools.

sel

I reckon its a Black House Spider

kar-kier

I'd second that one.

scottishcelts

Thanks for that I would have said a mouse spider, hard to tell though.

bcworld

Them's a serious set of fangs!

sammyg

hhmmm...well i'd like to go with the mouse spider or house spider but it seemed more compact than that mouse on the piccie!

I would like to hope that we don't get funnel webs in our garden

I just rescued it from the pool, where i know it was pretending to be dead, i flicked it around a bit in the sun and then it scarperd - little bugger!

How big are funnel webs?

ABCDiamond

1.5 cm - 3.5 cm according to the museum website. I've never actually seen one though.

This bit was interesting and relevant "A number of other spiders are often mistaken as funnel-webs, including mouse spiders, trapdoor spiders and even Black House Spiders."

desperatehousewife

Well done Sam!

Your a braver girl than me! xx

sel

When you flicked it around a bit, did it attempt to rear up at you ?? A funnel web would have and and so would the male trapdoor spider, males also have hooks on their front legs and all legs (M&F) are very shiny, almost like theyve been polished, which your spider doesnt look like it has. The female trapdoor is more timid but they rarely if ever come out of their nest so would be highly unlikely (I have them in my garden). You would be in no doubt of a mouse spider due to the size of the fangs and they will also usually rear up when threatened. Therefore by matter of deduction Black House Spider wins the day although still be careful when removing as they do bite and can cause pain, nausea & fever but would prefer to run away and hide.

BTW the little things on the bum are called the spinnerets.