A lil help?

[thesnakeman]

Hi folks,
Although I'm not much of a spider kind of guy, I must give credit where credit is due. I hope I'm able to post this pic, but if not, I'll send it to anyone who would like to see it. If this had been a snake, the surprise would have been pleasent. But this guy creeps me out! It's the biggest darned wolf spider Iv'e ever seen in 43 years on this planet!!! You can see by the pic, he dwarfs a silver dollar. I thought he was a tarantula at first. And his color is awsome. Much like a brindle pit bull. And this guy can move like lightning!

Now can someone please clue me in as to the proper identifacation of this monster? Both latin, and common name? Being a snakey kind of guy, I don't know too much about spiders, but this is an awsome specimen! And I am very currious. So any help would be very nice. Feel free to respond here, or to e-mail me direct at; thesnakeman@centurytel.net

And would anyone like to add this guy to his or her collection, or should I let him go? Either way, I won't kill him. He's just too cool! Even if he is a spider. Thanks very much,
T.

 

[NRF]

In what habitat did you find it? Try to search the web on Arctosa . Can you get a more close-up of the eyes?

 

[baboons24]

wow, beautiful

I am mostly a tarantula keeper myself but I am absolutely mesmerized by huntsmen spiders and yours looks like a huntsman to me. I would get a good look at the eye placement first and that should narrow down your search. GOod luck, and awesome find!!!!

 

[Venom]

That looks like a Dolomedes tenebrosus, a fishing spider. See this site, and note the matching abdominal pattern and reddish banded legs.

edit: doh, forgot to give URL... here it is:

http://www.uark.edu/depts/entomolo/museum/dolomede.html

 

[Droften]

Awsome spider, just a little different color like the ones here in Michigan!! My friends would love to have it!

 

[orcrist]

Definitely Dolomedes tenebrosus, (my favorite spider ) They have several different color variations from population to population. You happen to be lucky enough to have gotten one of the red-brown ones, my local population is darker and a slightly greyish brown.

 

[thesnakeman]

WOW,...Thanks!

Thanks to you all for your input!

Yup,...I compared him to the pic of the Dark Fishing Spider, and that's what he is,...Although I think by what it said in the article, that he is a she.

I caught this guy on my kitchen floor at about 10:00 pm. He stood out like a sore thumb! Our location is in south central Missouri, among the Ozark mountains. There is no water to speak of around here, exept a small stock pond about a quarter mile away. The landscape is oak forest, and hay feilds. I thought he was a wolf spider, but the color is different than all the other wolf spiders Iv'e seen here. And I'm sorry that you can't see the eyes in the pic, but,...I ain't gettin any closer!!! Like I said, he moves like lightning! Would he bite? And if so what would that be like?

If anybody would like to have this guy, e-mail me, and we'll work something out. If not, I'll take him out away,...WAY< WAY< AWAY from the house, and let him go.Thanks again all,
T.

 

[orcrist]

It would probably bite you if you stuck your finger too close and it was cornered. Depending on you, (some people are more sensitive than others) there might be some slight necrosis, like in a recluse bite, but to a much lesser extent, either way, it hurts like hell. They have big fangs, and they're strike is pretty fast. Try feeding her, and you'll see what I mean.

-0rcrist