large spider Id please

[barber]

[LoveT]

I'm tempted to say it's a woodlouse spider - Dysdera crocata.

Thea

[Geoff F]

While the general shape is rather like a Woodlouse Spider the colours are totally wrong. There is a Segestria florentina which looks a bit like your image. But I have never seen one; I am just quoting from my book here. It is uncommon and usually only found in the south.

If you can supply more details about your location, size, habitat, web if any, etc,then one of the spider experts will probably be along in a few minutes to give an instant ID.

[barber]

location surrey,body size about house spider length, found a bit worse for wear on the patio and the colour is perhaps more purple than appears in the pic

[Meta menardi]

I would suggest Segestria senoculata. Also known sometimes as the snake spider, a lighter coloured specimens have an adder like pattern. If you look at the photo, you will see the last pair of legs are orientated backwards. They live i a tubular retreat, first three apirs of legs are for doing spidery things, back pair work your mechanics in the retreat.

[Geoff F]

I thought that Segestria senoculata and S. bavarica both had a light coloured abdomen, with darker markings.

I normally use Spider Gallery for double checking identification and their images for S. florentina are identical with this image.

But, and it is a big but, I don't have much personal experience in this field, so it is just a suggestion and I wait to increase my knowledge here.

[barber]

Am going with Segestria florentina many thanks.

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by Geoff F

I thought that Segestria senoculata and S. bavarica both had a light coloured abdomen, with darker markings.

I normally use Spider Gallery for double checking identification and their images for S. florentina are identical with this image.

But, and it is a big but, I don't have much personal experience in this field, so it is just a suggestion and I wait to increase my knowledge here.

Colouring is variable. See Segestria senoculata in Cornwall

The other thing to look for is a greenish sheen especially on the jaws and so on. Given where you are it certainly could be florentina.

[Venger]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

The other thing to look for is a greenish sheen especially on the jaws and so on.

Usually only applies to the female, male jaws are much more dull (bronze-ish)

[Geoff F]

But the Cornish photo still has some colour banding on the legs which doesn't appear in Barber's photo. However S. senoculata is certainly far more widespread and common.

If all spiders in a species were produced to a standard colouring design it would make life so much easier, wouldn't it.