The Mouse spider belongs to the mygalomorph genus of the Actinopodidae family. They have attained the name mouse spider because of the belief that deep burrows are dug by them just as mice, though this is disproven. These species are mostly found in Australia, though their presence is also recorded in Chile.
| Missulena bradleyi | Missulena leniae | Missulena mainae |
| Missulena faulderi | Missulena melissae | Missulena torbayensis |
| Missulena dipsaca | Missulena pinguipes | |
| Missulena granulosa | Missulena occatoria | |
| Missulena hoggi | Missulena pruinosa | |
| Missulena langlandsi | Missulena rutraspina | |
| Missulena harewoodi | Missulena reflexa | |
| Missulena insignis | Missulena tussulena |
Size: 10 mm to 35 mm, medium to large in size
Color: Sexual dimorphism is noticed in terms of color. The coloration of the males differs from one species to the other. The males of the eastern mouse spider possess a patch of blue while the red-headed mouse species have a brown or bluish-black body with red-tinged jaws. The females, on the other hand, have a completely black body.
Other Characteristic Features: The males have a slender appearance while the females are large and stocky. Other characteristic features of these species include a broad head, set high, a glossy carapace and eyes spreading out to the front part of their head. Their spinnerets are short, situated at the rear end of their abdomen.
60 or more eggs are laid in an egg sac that is mostly round in shape.
They hatch during summer, and after remaining with their mother for a while they disperse during autumn.
They spin silk for lining their burrows however, like other spider groups they do not weave elaborate webs for capturing preys.
The males and females possess large fangs with an aggressive demeanor that may bite only when provoked. Certain species of this genus like the Eastern mouse spider is said to have toxins in their venom that resemble the robustoxin present in the venom of the funnel web spider. The anti-venom used for treating the funnel web attacks is also said to be applicable in dealing with severe bites of this species. However, having said this, their bites are dry and these spiders are not too fierce with humans unlike the Australasian funnel-web, and records of their bites are also rare.
| Distribution | All through Australia, while a single species (Missulena tussulena) was found in Chile |
| Habitat | Burrows which are covered with trapdoors |
| Predators | Scorpions, bandicoots, wasps and centipedes |
| Diet | Insects, small vertebrates like lizards and frogs as well as spiders |
Image Credits: Media.australianmuseum.net.au, I.pinimg.com, Abc.net.au, Qmtalksscience.files.wordpress.com
The Mouse spider belongs to the mygalomorph genus of the Actinopodidae family. They have attained the name mouse spider because of the belief that deep burrows are dug by them just as mice, though this is disproven. These species are mostly found in Australia, though their presence is also recorded in Chile.
| Missulena bradleyi | Missulena leniae | Missulena mainae |
| Missulena faulderi | Missulena melissae | Missulena torbayensis |
| Missulena dipsaca | Missulena pinguipes | |
| Missulena granulosa | Missulena occatoria | |
| Missulena hoggi | Missulena pruinosa | |
| Missulena langlandsi | Missulena rutraspina | |
| Missulena harewoodi | Missulena reflexa | |
| Missulena insignis | Missulena tussulena |
Size: 10 mm to 35 mm, medium to large in size
Color: Sexual dimorphism is noticed in terms of color. The coloration of the males differs from one species to the other. The males of the eastern mouse spider possess a patch of blue while the red-headed mouse species have a brown or bluish-black body with red-tinged jaws. The females, on the other hand, have a completely black body.
Other Characteristic Features: The males have a slender appearance while the females are large and stocky. Other characteristic features of these species include a broad head, set high, a glossy carapace and eyes spreading out to the front part of their head. Their spinnerets are short, situated at the rear end of their abdomen.
60 or more eggs are laid in an egg sac that is mostly round in shape.
They hatch during summer, and after remaining with their mother for a while they disperse during autumn.
They spin silk for lining their burrows however, like other spider groups they do not weave elaborate webs for capturing preys.
The males and females possess large fangs with an aggressive demeanor that may bite only when provoked. Certain species of this genus like the Eastern mouse spider is said to have toxins in their venom that resemble the robustoxin present in the venom of the funnel web spider. The anti-venom used for treating the funnel web attacks is also said to be applicable in dealing with severe bites of this species. However, having said this, their bites are dry and these spiders are not too fierce with humans unlike the Australasian funnel-web, and records of their bites are also rare.
| Distribution | All through Australia, while a single species (Missulena tussulena) was found in Chile |
| Habitat | Burrows which are covered with trapdoors |
| Predators | Scorpions, bandicoots, wasps and centipedes |
| Diet | Insects, small vertebrates like lizards and frogs as well as spiders |
Image Credits: Media.australianmuseum.net.au, I.pinimg.com, Abc.net.au, Qmtalksscience.files.wordpress.com
