Mouse spiders are part of the big Actinopodidae spider family. Some people thought they dug burrows like mice, which is how they got their name. But that’s not really true. These spiders mainly live in Australia, but some have been found in Chile too. In this post, we’ll share interesting facts about the Mouse spider. Excited? Let’s go!
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, and situated at the rear end of their abdomen.
Eggs
60 or more eggs are laid in an egg sac that is mostly round in shape.
Spiderlings
They hatch during summer, and after remaining with their mother for a while they disperse during autumn.
The Web
They spin silk for lining their burrows however, like other spider groups they do not weave elaborate webs for capturing prey.
Are Mouse Spiders Venomous?
Yes, Mouse Spiders have venom. They use it to get their bug snacks. But for people, it’s not super strong or scary.
Can Mouse Spiders Bite?
Mouse Spiders can bite, but they’re usually quiet and keep to themselves. They’ll only bite if they’re really, really scared.
Ecological Importance and Behavior of the Mouse Spider
Mouse Spiders are crucial to ecosystems, aiding soil aeration through burrowing and balancing populations by preying on insects and small vertebrates. Their role ensures environmental sustainability.
Natural Predator: Surviving in the Australian wilderness requires resilience. While the Mouse Spider is a formidable predator, it is not exempt from threats. Scorpions, bandicoots, wasps, and centipedes are known predators, maintaining the ecological equilibrium.
Prey-Predator Dynamics: Armed with short spinnerets and impressive fangs, the Mouse Spider has evolved to be an adept hunter, preferring a diet of insects, small vertebrates, and even other spiders. Their burrows serve as strategic ambush points, where they await unsuspecting prey. Their absence of an elaborate web underscores their predatory prowess.
Relationship with Humans: Mouse Spiders rarely interact with humans and are less aggressive despite their potent venom, similar to the dangerous funnel web spider. However, their rare bites can be painful, so caution is advised.
Quick Facts
Distribution
All through Australia, while a single species (Missulena tussulena) was found in Chile
Habitat
Burrows that are covered with trapdoors
Predators
Scorpions, bandicoots, wasps and centipedes
Diet
Insects, small vertebrates like lizards and frogs as well as spiders
Did You Know
Charles Athanase Walckenaer described this genus in the year 1805.
The name mouse spider is also shared by another species namely Scotophaeus blackwalli, indigenous to Britain as well as northern Europe, though this is different than this species.
You can identify a mouse spider by its size, from 10 to 35 mm, and its distinct features. These spiders possess a broad, high head with a glossy carapace and widely spread eyes. Females are typically stocky and all black, while the more slender males show species-specific coloration.
Yes, mouse spiders exhibit strong sexual dimorphism. Females are large, stocky, and uniformly black across most species. Males are more slender and their coloration varies; for example, the red-headed mouse spider has reddish jaws, while the eastern mouse spider can have a distinct blue patch on its abdomen.
Mouse spiders are primarily found throughout Australia, which is their native and most common habitat. While the genus is largely endemic to Australia, some species have also been discovered living in Chile, making it one of the few other locations where these particular spiders are known to exist.
Mouse spiders were named based on an early and incorrect belief that they constructed deep burrows similar to those of mice. Although they are indeed burrowing spiders that line their homes with silk, this name is a misnomer and does not accurately reflect their specific burrowing habits or any resemblance.
No, mouse spiders do not spin webs for the purpose of capturing prey. They are burrow-dwelling spiders that actively hunt. They use their silk primarily to line the interior of their burrows, which provides structural integrity and a secure shelter rather than serving as a trap for insects.
A female mouse spider is characterized by her large, stocky body which is entirely black. She has a high, broad head area with a glossy carapace, a key feature of the genus. Unlike the often colorful males, the female’s uniform dark coloration is a primary identifying physical trait.
Mouse spiderlings typically hatch from their egg sac during the summer months. After emerging, the young spiders will remain with their mother inside the safety of her burrow for a period. They generally disperse from the maternal burrow to establish their own territories during the following autumn season.
Dr Richard J. Pearce (PhD) on June 30, 2019.
Spider Team
