Unidentified Spiders

[sebastianbawn]

Both pics around 15mm from fangs to spinners. Both found under decaying wood in a builders yardin Bristol. Thought they were both amaurobius ferox but the patterns are extremely dissimilar. I also thought both were females but one of the pics appears to have palps?

[Venger]

Bottom one is male.
Abdominal patterning is not the best way to ID things - it's a guide to genus. Species like A.ferox have quite variable patternings (which is why you shouldn't rely on them )

[Jason Green]

I take it... both sexes have palps, girls ones are thin and males have bulbous tips like 'punchbags', as I think you've said... and are palps the same as pedipalps, or does the latter form part of the former?

[Venger]

Yes both sexes have palps.
Immature male have a small swollen tarsus (the last segment), which becomes larger as it matures, increasing in size but still quite smooth, it's only after the final moult that the fully functional complex structures are seen.
Palp is the short version of Pedipalp yes.

[Jason Green]

Thanks Des

[sebastianbawn]

yeh thanks. Im learning so much about spiders its incredible. Who kneww how complex they could be!!!

[Venger]

Tip...of..the..iceberg Seb

[sebastianbawn]

well im giving it 100% and with everything Im learning from you guys Im hoping to further my knowledge alot more, thanks guys