When the species was first described males and females were treated as two different species due to their vastly different size and appearance. It wasn't until years later that researchers found a mating pair that they were in fact the same species.
Why 'mouse' spider? Several possible explanations have been suggested
- someone found a spider in a deep burrow that had possibly been an old beetle or mouse hole.
- they are alleged to eat mice
- the large females resemble mice
Identification
Red-headed Mouse Spiders have a smooth, glossy carapace and their head area is high, steep and broad with very large, bulbous jaws. Their eyes are widespread across the front of their head. The spinnerets, at the back of the abdomen, are short and blunt, the last segment domed and button-like.
Female Red-headed Mouse Spiders are large, stout spiders with short legs. They tend to be uniformly dark brown to black all over, however their jaws are sometimes red-tinged. Female Red-headed Mouse Spiders are much larger than the males.
Male Red-headed Mouse Spiders have a bright red head and jaws and a gunmetal blue to black abdomen. They have thinner and longer slender legs without mating spurs. They are much smaller than the females.
When the species was first described males and females were treated as two different species due to their vastly different size and appearance. It wasn't until years later that reasearchers found a mating pair that they were in fact the same species.
Scientific name: Missulena occatoria
Similar species:
Trapdoor Spiders, Funnel-web Spiders