Kukulcania male, Ali H., PhD Lubbock TX

The photo on the right was taken by Dr. Ali H., in Lubbock, TX, on 101408. The spider was brought to his office by a friend who worried it might be a brown recluse. After taking a number of photos under the microscope, Dr. H. sent them to me for identification. The gross features of the carapace, and the arrangement of the eyes, suggested that this was a Filistatid--and assured that it was not a recluse spider (Loxoscelidae). In a hasty reply to Dr. H., to allay his friend's concerns, I suggested it might be a southern house spider (Filistatidae: Kukulcania hibernalis). Later, on examining the photos again, I realizated that, while most likely a Kukulcania, this was clearly not K. hibernalis. The first two segments of the legs, where they attach to the sternum, are about the same coloration of the remaining leg segments, while those of K. hibernalis are so remarkably pale that they help identify that species in the field. The body itself is a darker brown than the light tan typical for a K. hibernalis male, but not black, as would be expected for a female in this genus. Methinks this may be a Kukulcania arizonica, but a closer analysis is needed to confirm. NEXT PAGE ---- PAGE MENU:  1  *  2  *  

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