Often mistaken for a tarantula, Calisoga is smaller and unable to climb smooth surfaces. Very frequently encountered in the Oakland hills. There is considerable variation in color and form. The similar Calisoga thevenetti is less frequently seen. As with tarantulas, the spiders are usually safely hidden in their burrows, and wandering males are the most likely to be encountered.
@Travis Antula Wow, thanks for the information! I've seen a few of those over the years and am about a hour's drive away(much shorter distance in a straight line though, due to the hills) from Norco. I did think they were juvenile tarantulas. Exact same jet black color and size(I did wonder why they were all the same size, except one was half that size.. should have realized that was a possible clue). In a way this makes me sad, was happy the tarantulas were still present and breeding despite the increasing urbanization. And to find out they were not tarantulas after all..
It looks rather Kukulcania-like to me. Do you have any other pictures? Pictures of the webbing or "burrow"? (Their webbing looks rather like tattered lace and sticks to everything despite not containing any glue.)
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