Please help ID this spider

[kshunter]

Sorry I don't have any pics, but I had an unwelcome visitor in the shower last night. This spider's body was approximately 1/2" in length. The legs were orange with black stripes. The front half of the body was dark black with a VERY faint line directly in the center running front to back. The back half of the body was gray with no markings. While most likely not harmful to humans (most North American spiders aren't) - I am curious what this spider is all about and where its normally found. Thanks!

Rob

 

[orcrist]

Hmm... The only spiders in NA that have orange legs that I can recall at the moment are dysdera crocata and some sort of trapdoor spider. I'm leaning toward the latter, seeing as crocata has a red and white body. Do you have any more information/ able to get pics?

-0rcrist

 

[kshunter]

unfortunately I didn't get a picture taken. The closest resemblance I can find has been the drysdera crocata, but like you said it has a red cephylothorax(sp?). This spider's front half was dark black, and the back half was slightly more elongated. The legs were definately orange with black markings. My curiousity grows more and more as I can't seem to ID it.

 

[orcrist]

hmm. There are several other Dysdera species to consider. I'll try to find some that fit the description. Try googling Dysdera in the meantime.

-0rcrist