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Chinese Hourglass Spider (Cyclocosmia ricketti)

The Chinese Hourglass spider is a member of the family of Halonoproctidae spiders. The stomach of this spider is truncated, with a unique disk at the end of the abdomen.

Scientific Classification

Chinese Hourglass Spider

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: Male: 2.1 cm Female: 2.5-3 cm

Color: These spiders are generally brown in color.

Other Characteristic Features: The abdomens of these spiders abruptly end in a rigid disk of around 3.2 cm in diameter, which resembles a copper coin. Due to this distinct feature, they are popular as pets.

Cyclocosmia ricketti

Eggs

The eggs are laid inside the caves, which they protect by using the coin-shaped disk on their abdomen to block the entrance to their burrow, in a process called phragmosis.

Spiderlings

As spiderlings are rarely seen outside the tunnels, very little is known about their appearance. They emerge from the burrow after they mature.

The Web

Like other trapdoor spiders, they are not great at constructing webs. They use the silk threads they generate to line their tunnels.

Are Chinese Hourglass Spiders Venomous

As they use stealth and speed to capture prey quickly, these spiders are not known to bite humans. However, despite their venom not being very toxic, their bite is still painful.

Quick Facts

Other names Money Trapdoor Spider, Money Living-Door Spider, Severed Abdomen Spider
Lifespan 5-10 years
Distribution China, mainly the provinces of Fujian, Sichuan, and Zhejiang
Habitat Caves
Common Predators Scorpions and wasps
Diet Insects such as ants, beetles, crickets, cockroaches, grasshoppers, and moths

Cyclocosmia ricketti Spider

Did You Know

  • They are a scarce species, with only six specimens seen in the wild from 2000 to 2016. This has led to a collector’s market for these spiders, leading to farms in Thailand breeding and selling them. As of January 2021, these spiders have sold for $3860 or 25,000 yuan per specimen.
  • South African phycologist Mary Agard Pocock first described this species in 1901.

Image Source: reptileforums.co.uk, myhourglasscollection.com, live.staticflickr.com

The Chinese Hourglass spider is a member of the family of Halonoproctidae spiders. The stomach of this spider is truncated, with a unique disk at the end of the abdomen.

Chinese Hourglass Spider

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: Male: 2.1 cm Female: 2.5-3 cm

Color: These spiders are generally brown in color.

Other Characteristic Features: The abdomens of these spiders abruptly end in a rigid disk of around 3.2 cm in diameter, which resembles a copper coin. Due to this distinct feature, they are popular as pets.

Cyclocosmia ricketti

Eggs

The eggs are laid inside the caves, which they protect by using the coin-shaped disk on their abdomen to block the entrance to their burrow, in a process called phragmosis.

Spiderlings

As spiderlings are rarely seen outside the tunnels, very little is known about their appearance. They emerge from the burrow after they mature.

The Web

Like other trapdoor spiders, they are not great at constructing webs. They use the silk threads they generate to line their tunnels.

Are Chinese Hourglass Spiders Venomous

As they use stealth and speed to capture prey quickly, these spiders are not known to bite humans. However, despite their venom not being very toxic, their bite is still painful.

Quick Facts

Other names Money Trapdoor Spider, Money Living-Door Spider, Severed Abdomen Spider
Lifespan 5-10 years
Distribution China, mainly the provinces of Fujian, Sichuan, and Zhejiang
Habitat Caves
Common Predators Scorpions and wasps
Diet Insects such as ants, beetles, crickets, cockroaches, grasshoppers, and moths

Cyclocosmia ricketti Spider

Did You Know

  • They are a scarce species, with only six specimens seen in the wild from 2000 to 2016. This has led to a collector’s market for these spiders, leading to farms in Thailand breeding and selling them. As of January 2021, these spiders have sold for $3860 or 25,000 yuan per specimen.
  • South African phycologist Mary Agard Pocock first described this species in 1901.

Image Source: reptileforums.co.uk, myhourglasscollection.com, live.staticflickr.com

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