A Couple of New Critters (More Bugs)

**Taceas** · 01-10-07, 07:59 PM

I just got these in today and so far they're pretty neat.

The first is a female Calisoga longitarsus, a funnel web spider native to California.

No, its not a tarantula though they are often mistaken for them. They possess the quite a few of the distinguishing features of a tarantula. She's about 4" in leg span.

The second critter is a Centruroides vittatus scorpion. The guy I bought the spider from had the female scorpion to die of old age, and he couldn't find a buyer for the lone male scorp, so he included him for free.

They're the most common species of scorpion in the US, ranging from the Southwestern US through Texas and even up into Missouri and Illinois. Definitely a hands off creature, as they have a painful sting that most people report to feeling like being stung by 5 hornets at once.

Would you believe this little guy is only 4cm long, from head to tip of tail?

Joni Garcia · 01-10-07, 08:02 PM

Love the new critters! I can see why the funnel web spider can be mistaken for a Tarantula. She's a very neat looking spider.

Traci1 · 01-10-07, 08:10 PM

Beautiful spider! I would have indeed thought it was some type of T. It looks so "velvety".

**MattKennedy** · 01-10-07, 09:00 PM

It certainly looks like a tarantula to me, I never would have known otherwise if you never said so...

The scorpion in the picture looks as large as my hand. I would not have guessed it to be only 4 cm.

Awesome pets...

Matt

Drucifer · 01-13-07, 11:21 AM

Can you handle funnel web spiders at all?
It does resemble a Tarantula in many ways, I must agree.
And that's an amazing scorpion.

**desertanimal** · 01-13-07, 04:41 PM

Whoa. That's a handsome spider. But not anywhere near as dangerous as the Australian funnel-webs, no doubt?

**Taceas** · 01-13-07, 11:07 PM

Handling of the Calisoga is not recommended. Most everything I've found out about them, which isn't much, points to a very aggressive and "bitey" animal.

And no I don't think their bite is anywhere as dangerous as the Australian funnel web spiders. Most people have reported the bite to be similar to a bad wasp sting in pain, and it leaves a similar sized welt.

Apparently they are different from tarantulas in that they lack the urticating hairs that all New World tarantulas possess.

But the main characteristic they do share with tarantulas is that their fangs point back towards their body, apparently that is a more primitive body style. Most of the smaller "more evolved" spiders possess fangs that are opposed to one another, similar to pincers, called Araneomorphs. So tarantulas and funnel webs are classified in the realm of Mygalomorphs.

Lefty_Mussolini · 01-13-07, 11:22 PM

Very cool.

What part of California are those Funnel Webs from. I might have to go looking for them

**Taceas** · 01-13-07, 11:25 PM

The guy I bought her from has found several in the San Jose area. I'm not sure where exactly.