Woodlouse Spider - Dysdera crocota

[rebeccam]

Hi i have been looking all over to find out what this spider is, he lives in my shed which i work in and keeps me company pottering around my keyboard. i have been looking and the nearest i can find in a Marpissa muscosa, however i have had a look on the distribution lists and they have only ever seem to have been recorded down south (i am north-west) - may be completely on the wrong species, and may be a common house spider for all i know!! - he does jump though, i thought it was a baby zebra at first!
If you could help identify him, then i can maybe change the distribution lists!!
And whether he would be better living in the garden, or whether hes ok in here where its warm!!
Many thanks
Rebecca + Eric (the spider)

[Wild-Woman]

Hi Rebecca and a warm welcome to you and your spider Eric. Hope you enjoy posting here. Now, about Eric. He certainly looks like one of the jumping spiders but as to type I'm not sure. Luckily you have arrived at one of the most knowledgable, friendliest and I might add maddest wildlife sites on Earth. So don't worry, one of the others members will surely know and put your mind at rest. They'll all be along later to introduce themselves but they are probably all in bed still, they don't get up as early as I do!!! Happy posting. Good morning.
Wild-Woman

[Mozzie]

Hi Rebbecca,
I would also like to know what spider that is. What I do know is, years ago in Leeds when I was about 9/10, my best friend next door had one of those in a jar. He used to put other spiders (large and small) into the jar with it and that spider would leap on the other spider's back and make very short work of it. That's small boys for you I'm afraid !!!

[Tornado]

Hi Rebecca (and Eric!)

Eric looks like a Woodlouse Spider (Dysdera crocota)
I have just consulted one of my garden wildlife books and
he definately looks like the image found there. I would add
one note of caution (assuming this is the correct ID) my
book says he could inflict a painful bite if handled!!!
Good luck with Eric!
Tornado. PS welcome to WAB both you and Eric.

[Action_Man]

Ooh ! i found this old post whilst looking for Woodlice Spiders.

Venger missed this one, perhaps not a member then.

It looks like some kind of Sac Spider ...

[GRH]

It is a sac spider, more specifically a Clubiona species. Looks like C. corticalis, though I'm not sure how common this abdominal pattern is in Clubiona.

Greg

[Venger]

Hey Greg's back, you've been quiet

That post was made in May 2006 and I joined in April 2007 so unless you want me to go through the entire archive of posts ....lol

Oh and yes definitely Clubiona

[Action_Man]

No --- just pulling one of your eight legs ...

[dmclean2]

Hi! I had this one down as the woodlouse spider - Dysdera crocata also'
Duncan.

[Venger]

dmclean2 - your's is definitely a woodlouse spider, it's a Dysdera sp can't see enough of it to give you to tell you which one it is.