Missulena occatoria
Encyclopedia
The red-headed mouse spider
(Missulena occatoria) is found almost everywhere in Australia
, from open forests to desert shrublands. It is the largest (females up to 24mm, males up to 12mm) and most widely distributed Missulena species, because the spiderlings are wind-dispersed (ballooning
). Normally this only occurs with araneomorph
spiders, mygalomorph
spiders normally disperse by walking.The Red Headed Mouse spider also has very poisonous venom. If bitten go to the hospital immediately. No human deaths have been recorded though.
The spiders dig a burrow up to 55 cm deep, with two trapdoors.
While the females are black with a red tinge, the males have a bright red head and jaws, and a gunmetal blue-black abdomen
.
Mouse spider
Mouse spiders are spiders of the genus Missulena, in the mygalomorph family Actinopodidae. There are 11 known species in this genus, all but one of which are indigenous to Australia. One species, M. tussulena, is found in Chile...
(Missulena occatoria) is found almost everywhere in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, from open forests to desert shrublands. It is the largest (females up to 24mm, males up to 12mm) and most widely distributed Missulena species, because the spiderlings are wind-dispersed (ballooning
Ballooning (spider)
Ballooning is a term used for the mechanical kiting that many spiders, especially small species, as well as certain mites and some caterpillars use to disperse through the air. Many small spiders use gossamer or especially fine silk to lift themselves off a surface or use the silk as an anchor in...
). Normally this only occurs with araneomorph
Araneomorphae
The Araneomorphae are a suborder of spiders. They are distinguished by having fangs that oppose each other and cross in a pinching action, in contrast to the Mygalomorphae , which have fangs that are nearly parallel in alignment.- Distinguishing characteristics :Note the difference in the...
spiders, mygalomorph
Mygalomorphae
The Mygalomorphae, , are an infraorder of spiders. The latter name comes from the orientation of the fangs which point straight down and do not cross each other .-Description:...
spiders normally disperse by walking.The Red Headed Mouse spider also has very poisonous venom. If bitten go to the hospital immediately. No human deaths have been recorded though.
The spiders dig a burrow up to 55 cm deep, with two trapdoors.
While the females are black with a red tinge, the males have a bright red head and jaws, and a gunmetal blue-black abdomen
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
.