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Trapdoor spider

Iberesia machadoi

Photo by Dangermouse
Published on Project Noah
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37.1258, -7.64984

Field Notes

Description:

The body is clearly split into two parts, with the front part being almost completely black, and the back part brown but slightly translucent, soft and sac-like. The front 'antenna' clearly have two stingers, like scorpions, on the end. These are pedipalps, indicating this is a male.

Notes:

I fished this one out of a swimming pool at work. He twitched a little but I think he was dead.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (5)
Dangermouse
ID still a little tentative, but I think it's right. This species is found specifically in Portugal, which is a plus! :)
Dangermouse
So, this fellar looks very much like a type of trapdoor spider, family Ctenizidae, and it's a male because it has the pedipalps at the front. And it looks like a California trapdoor spider, but can't be because it was found in Europe.... More research needed! :)
Dangermouse
rubens, o tamanho é 5cm, mais ou menos. É definitivamente uma aranha diferente! :) Obrigado! Stephanie, thanks for the comment and the help! :) I will check that out now. I do have more unidentified spiders, if you wish to take a look at those some time...? :)
StephanieCobbold
Nice find! This spider is a mygalomorph because the fangs point straight down. If it were an araneomorph (which includes the Clubionidae), the fangs would cross each other. I hope this helps!

Spotted for Missions

Mission
WILD Cities: Urban Biodiversity
Mission
International Spider Survey
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 6, 2011

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