Heteropoda cervina

Heteropoda cervina
H. cervina on a barbecue
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Sparassidae
Genus: Heteropoda
Species: H. cervina
Binomial name
Heteropoda cervina
L. Koch, 1875
Synonyms
  • Heteropoda keyserlingi
  • Sarotes cervinus

Heteropoda cervina, commonly called the brown huntsman, is a large species of spider in the Sparassidae family often found in leaf litter in Australia.[1] The species was first described by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch in 1875.[2]

All huntsman spiders are nocturnal, and H. cervina shelters under bark during the day, emerging in the evening to find prey,[1] often on tree trunks. They are also known to enter houses,[3] though they are extremely timid, and their bite – while painful – is only mildly toxic.[4] Their unequally sized legs, after which the genus is named,[1] give them a crab-like appearance, and enable them to move very quickly in any direction.[3] They have strong, curved fangs, a flattened body and two sets of four eyes. Males and females look alike, though the latter are larger. Females lay their eggs in large "cocoons".[1] They are very similar in appearance to the related species Heteropoda jugulans.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Whyte, Robert; Anderson, Greg. "Heteropoda cervina (Brown Huntsman)". Arachne.org.au. The Gap, Queensland, Australia: Save Our Waterways Now. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  2. ↑ Platnick, Norman I. (10 December 2011). "Fam. Sparassidae". The World Spider Catalog, Version 12.5. New York, NY, USA: American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.5531/db.iz.0001. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Chew, Tony; Chew, Sandy; Chew, Peter (5 March 2011). "Brown Huntsman Spider – Heteropoda jugulans or H. cervina". Brisbane Insects and Spiders. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  4. ↑ FUMAPEST Pest Control. "Australian Spider Identification Chart". Huntsman spiders ...low risk and non-aggressive. Retrieved 1 April 2012.

External links