Segestria senoculata
Encyclopedia
Segestria senoculata, sometimes known as the snake-back spider or leopard spider, is a species of spider
belonging to the family Segestriidae. It has a Palearctic
distribution.
The common names of this species (which has a body length of around 9 mm) refer to a row of black spots along the back of the grey abdomen
which are thought to resemble the pattern found on some snake
s. However on some specimens these markings fuse to form a solid band. The carapace
is shiny dark brown and elongated and the legs are pale brown with darker ringing.
As with other members of this family, this spider makes a tubular web in a crevice and darts out to catch prey which crosses trip lines which fan out from the tube's entrance.
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
belonging to the family Segestriidae. It has a Palearctic
Palearctic
The Palearctic or Palaearctic is one of the eight ecozones dividing the Earth's surface.Physically, the Palearctic is the largest ecozone...
distribution.
The common names of this species (which has a body length of around 9 mm) refer to a row of black spots along the back of the grey 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...
which are thought to resemble the pattern found on some snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
s. However on some specimens these markings fuse to form a solid band. The carapace
Carapace
A carapace is a dorsal section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tortoises, the underside is called the plastron.-Crustaceans:In crustaceans, the...
is shiny dark brown and elongated and the legs are pale brown with darker ringing.
As with other members of this family, this spider makes a tubular web in a crevice and darts out to catch prey which crosses trip lines which fan out from the tube's entrance.