Help identifying spider please?

[SW Animal Lover]

Hi, When leaving my house about a week ago, I found a spider tucked under the front door. I've not seen anything like it in the uk before and wondered if anyone could help me identify it please?

Unfortunately I didnt take a photo of the said spider, really wish I had now, but a description of it is:

Very large and black!

Its body (not including the head) was about and inch to an inch and a quarter long, it was jet black with a very smooth (soft not shiny) appearance, its legs were dark brown/almost black. In total it was about 2 - 2.5 inches (including legs). It was just sat there, not moving, so I got a leaf to encourage it away from the house ( I am terrified of spiders but wont kill anything, so just wanted it away from my house!) as I tried to push it with the leaf it flicked onto its back, legs tucked in and 'played dead', then when I pushed it again, it flicked onto its legs and ran about 4inches, the next push it was on its back again, and so on until it was a wee way from the house.

I've tried to find it on the net and found several things about a 'mouse spider' (sorry dont know official name). It did look similar to a mouse spider except the body of the one I saw was rounder (more bulbus) and not as 'flat' looking as the mouse spider pictures I've seen, also the heads of the mouse spiders look almost as big as the body, whereas the one I saw, the head was definitely smaller than the body.

Does anyone recognise what it is please and whether or not its dangerous? I have cats and worry one will try to eat it, if it appears again. I live in Cornwall.

Many thanks in anticipation that someone will be able to help!

[mickmassie]

This has to be a wind-up.

[SW Animal Lover]

Hi, I can assure you its not. Why did you say that? I wish I had taken a photo but didnt. I've not seen a spider like it before and to be honest it kinda worried me a bit, hence recently buying a book on British wildlife and searching the net.

I would really like to know what it is, this is genuine and I would really appreciate some genuine feedback please.

[mickmassie]

Just in case it isn't a wind-up, Amaurobius ferox.

If you are worried about cats killing things, don't keep cats, they do kill things.

M.

[SW Animal Lover]

Hi, thank you for that name, Amaurobius ferox, I've just checked pics of it on the net though and its similar but the head looks to big and the body isnt big enough or round enough.

Any other suggestions please?

As for the cats, they are indoor cats so dont kill anything except my furniture! And unfortunately any spiders that I dont get to before they do. But I usually manage to get to them first as my scream scars the cats away from them!

I found this pic on the net, it looked similar to this, but it was bigger and jet black. Does this help any?

[Venger]

The picture you are showing is a Steatoda spp - try looking at Steatoda grossa, or Steatoda nobilis they both sound possible (both can have no abdominal patterning and can look black - more so S.grossa than S.nobilis (though I think your sizes are exaggerated. )
They aren't 'deadly' and won't kill you in one bite (Regardless of what the online newspapers say!) - your cats should fine, they are more likely to hide or run away and aren't interested in you or your cats.

[SW Animal Lover]

Hi, thank you for your reply. I've checked both of them on the net and neither are dark enough in colour as they appear to have markings on the back, whereas this one was just black. Also they dont appear big enough, as I appreciate it may sound an exaggerated size but it was honestly that big! The partner was there also so can back me up. I SO wish I'd taken a photo!

Any other suggestions, this is really bugging me now!

[wildherbalian85]

The size sounds possible a segestria but the rolling in a ball... haha deffo not the kind of behaviour i would expect

[Entorien_Scriber]

I agree, segestria does seem likely even with the odd behavior. I would have given a lot to find a spider like that right on my doorsep.

[Meta menardi]

I sadly fear that without any more information you are unlikely to get much further with this. No picture, quite a few suggestions not fitting what you have seen, you just have to accept that some things just don't get solved. Take comfort from the fact that spiders in this country are not dangerous, unless you have an allegic reaction some of their bites. Even this is rare. Animals like cats and dogs are quite clever at avoiding dangerous situations, so I would not concern myself about them.