Scotophaeus blackwalli
| Scotophaeus blackwalli | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Gnaphosidae |
| Genus: | Scotophaeus |
| Species: | S. blackwalli
|
| Binomial name | |
| Scotophaeus blackwalli (Thorell, 1871)[1]
| |
Scotophaeus blackwalli, also known as the mouse spider, is a species of spider belonging to the family Gnaphosidae.
This species is widespread in Britain and northern Europe.[2][3] They are commonly found in Britain around and inside houses, usually in the Autumn, and also under bark and in holes in walls in warmer parts of Europe.[3] It hunts nocturnally.[4]
The adult males of these spiders reach 9mm in length, maturing in the early summer, while females reach 12mm, and can be found until autumn.[2][3][4]
The carapace is dark brown while the abdomen is brown/grey with hairs resembling the body of a mouse, hence the common name of 'mouse spider'.[3] The legs are brown with thick pubescence.[3] The male has a small scutum on the dorsum of the abdomen.[2]
Subspecies
- Scotophaeus blackwalli isabellinus (Simon, 1873) — Corsica, Italy, Croatia
- Scotophaeus blackwalli politus (Simon, 1878) — France
References
- ^ "Taxon details Scotophaeus blackwalli (Thorell, 1871)", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2016-04-15
- ^ a b c Roberts, Michael J. (1996) Collins Field Guide - Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe, Collins, ISBN 978-0-00-219981-0, pp. 108-9
- ^ a b c d e Jones, Dick (1989) A Guide to Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe (revised edition), Hamlyn, ISBN 0-600-56710-9, p. 74
- ^ a b Savory, Theodore (1945) The Spiders & Allied Orders of the British Isles, Warne, p. 64
External links
- Scotophaeus blackwalli, Spider and Harvestman Recording Scheme