I live in Amman, Jordan, Middle East, please help me identify this spider as this is not the first one of its kind that I see around in my apartment, and I'm totally arachnophobic!!! thanks!!
I'm sorry if my post did not fulfill all the requirements/rules of the forum, I posted in a rush as I'm so arachnophobic I regard this as an emergency (just to let u understand I'm staying in an internet cafe' now waiting for an answer as I'm too scared of going back home)
Most likely a mature male Chaetopelma olivaceum, out looking for love, must be 'that time of year'. Not a specifically nasty or toxic species as far as I know, I'm sure they want less to do with you as you with them. Most people here would consider you fortunate to have them, lol.
thank u so so so much for the reply (im home, on a chair, out of fear of going around ). as you might have understood im what you guys would call a pussy when it comes to spiders.
Ive looked at several pics on the net about Chaetopelma olivaceum but as far as I remember, "my" spider wasnt very similar (I know the pic is not very good, but that was the best I could do at that moment, it was like facing a tiger).
I don't understand where it came from though (also, is the second one I see in my place). I dont see nests anywhere, just my fear here?
btw u mentioned it is not specifically nasty nor toxic, but as far as I understood this is still a tarantula, correct? How sould I behave if i get bitten? How can I remove them from my place without harming them? Do they use to hide in places like "under my sheets before I go to bed" or "on my sofa while i watch tv" (I understand this sounds ridicolous to you but im in panic) or they mostly stay on walls and dark corners as good spiders are supposed to do?
tnx
I've never kept this species, so I can't offer first hand info. You may have better luck to search under the former name, C. gracile, rather than olivaceum as the name was changed fairly recently. They are known to vary a lot in coloration from lighter tones to black and the mature males have a much more slender proportion compared to females or immature males so pictures you find may not look very similar to 'yours'. They are mostly ground dwelling and don't web much, I guess this time of year they wander around looking for places to hole up for the winter and are often found in basements and such. They can also be communal and can be found together in numbers (rare in tarantulas). They are apparently a little on the feisty side but it's not like they'll chase you or anything like that and would'nt tend to bite unless provoked. No guarantee's on not being in your couch but tarantulas aren't usually voluntary household dwellers and I would think these much prefer quiet places with dirt and rocks. There must be a university somewhere in your part of the world with an entomology department and someone that knows some basic details of this species, that's what I'd pursue for info.
Tarantulas are not venomous in a medically significant way as some scorpions and snakes can be, many asian and african species are known for a very painful bite with some systemic effects but the majority only result in localized pain and swelling. Not something you'd need to go to a hospital for, nothing as bad as the Latrodectus (widows) that could also be found in your locale. If you need to remove one from your house just put a clear bowl or container over it and slide a stiff piece of paper/cardboard under it and let it go elsewhere. Or keep it as a pet for a while and get over your fear ;'} I've had 6-8" ones loose in my house and it doesn't bother me past not wanting to step on it and injure it.
Ok Bill, thank you very very much.
I will keep you guys up to date, and I apologize again in case I did not respect all the forum rules in my posts.
It is very weird for me to write in a community like this, as I was afraid of spiders all my life. In a sense I cannot really understand you, yet your love for this creatures doesn't sound bad.
I'm staying in Jordan one month more, and then I'll be back to my home country, Italy, where spiders are small and eat only pizza
thanks again
ok sorry another question. is the fact that my kitchen is not, err.. the cleanest place in the world, something that might attract this kind of spiders more easily?
thanks
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