''Sphodros rufipes'', sometimes called the red legged purseweb spider, is a
mygalomorph
The Mygalomorphae, or mygalomorphs, are an infraorder of spiders, and comprise one of three major groups of living spiders with over 3000 species, found on all continents except Antarctica. Many members are known as trapdoor spiders due to the ...
spider from the southern United States, though it has been photographed as far north as
Indiana
Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...
,
Missouri
Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
,
New Jersey
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,
Minnesota
Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...
, Tennessee, Delaware, Louisiana, and
Tuckernuck Island
Tuckernuck is an island in the town and former whaling port of Nantucket, Massachusetts, west of Nantucket Island and east of Muskeget. Its name allegedly means "a loaf of bread". The island has an area of about . The highest point is about .
Se ...
in
est Virginia A recent sighting shows that these spiders can also be found in Canada. Recent sighting also in Kansas.
What's That Bug: Sphodros rufipes
The species name ''rufipes'' is Latin for "red foot".
This spider is also sometimes known as ''Sphodros (Atypus) bicolor'', a synonym
A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...
.
Description
These spiders are solid and strong-looking and their bodies are black. The males have distinctive long red or red-orange legs, and the females have black legs. Females are known to reach a length of about 25 mm, or just under an inch, though they may also get slightly larger. Like other spiders in its infraorder mygalomorph
The Mygalomorphae, or mygalomorphs, are an infraorder of spiders, and comprise one of three major groups of living spiders with over 3000 species, found on all continents except Antarctica. Many members are known as trapdoor spiders due to the ...
, it has fangs that point straight down rather than crossing.
Behavior
This spider has a distinctive method of catching its prey. It spins a tunnel of silk against the side of a tree or supported by stones or other convenient objects, and waits for its prey to land or climb on the side of the tunnel. Then the spider bites through the silk walls and pulls the prey inside. These spiders rarely leave their webs for any reason other than mating.
Sphodros rufines.JPG, A male ''Sphodros rufipes'', showing its large vertical fangs in a threat display
Sphodros sp. tube (Marshal Hedin).jpg, ''Sphodros'' species tube
Notes
References
* (1980). A revision of the American spiders of the family Atypidae (Araneae, Mygalomorphae). ''American Museum Novitates'' 2704
Abstract
PDF (12Mb)
* (2009)
version 9.5. ''American Museum of Natural History''.
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1984229
Atypidae
Spiders of North America
Spiders described in 1829