dcandia04's Favorites

A robust medium sized spider, 2.3 cm in body length and looking much bigger with those stocky long legs. All black with a brownish abdomen on which faint darker brown stripes are visible. It was walking fast right down the middle of the street and went under a cement overhang on the curb. It is probably a male out looking for a female. The palpi are long, hairy on the tips, as are all 4 pairs of tarsi. These hairy tarsi (scopulae) are supposed to be a male characteristic. He also has several small pale mites scattered about on his body and legs, maybe hitchhiking. They are supposed to have 6 eyes instead of 8, but the eyes didn't show clearly. This is the first Trap Door Spider I have ever seen and I didn't even think we had them in our area. Family Halonoproctidae. Found late at night, semi-rural residential area, San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico 2,200 meters.