Distinctively marked spider with banded legs

[Bruce Williams]

Stony Stratford, Bucks. Inside tunnel wall. Nice fat pedipalps so a male I think. Help with identification appreciated:



Bruce

[MattPrince]

Nice crisp shot Bruce.

It is certainly a male, and I'm fairly certain a linyphid - one of the money spiders, but in this case a particularly well marked one, rather then one of the many tiny all-black species.

It looks a little like Neriene Montana to my eye, though the males should be pretty scarce at this point in the year, and no doubt there are other similar looking linyphids I haven't considered.

Do you have a size for this little beasty? Also another angle onto the carapace, and in particular the palps, would assist with identification (with the level of detail in your shot, a clear sideways view of the palps, providing the specimen is fully mature - should be enough for a species id by an expert)

Cheers,
Matt

[frits_b]

I agree with Neriene montana, looks like a subadult male.

Very nice picture by the way!

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks Matt.

Unfortunately I couldn't get a side-on shot as the spider was located in a dip of the corrugations of the tunnel wall. As to size....well 99% of my shots are taken at closest focus so generally I can easily and accurately calculate size. However because of subject size, in this instance I was not working at closest focus and didn't think to take a scale shot. I'm sure I can do something to estimate size - I'll give it some thought and get back to you.

Bruce

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks Frits (our posts must have crossed in cyberspace ).

Bruce

[Bruce Williams]

Well despite my earlier confidence I just couldn't work out a way of accurately sizing this spider - so will have to go with memory. I would say maybe 5 or 6mm excluding pedipalps - definitely not less than 5mm.

Bruce

[MattPrince]

Well Roberts has n. montana at the 4~7.4 mm range, males will typically be smaller so your size is about right. Even if it's about right for a lot of the more noticeable liny's

Any more photo's like this Bruce? - could do with some quality macro shots for the spider of the day ....

[Bruce Williams]

Sorry Matt I've only just read your post...

Thanks for your comment on size and much appreciate your comment on my photo - so what's the spider of the day?

Bruce

[Bruce Williams]

Ok, just seen Dave's "Spider of the Day" thread .

Bruce