Flat Rock Spider

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Flat rock spiders (Hemicloea major) really live up to their name. They behave much like Amblypygi in the New World, moving erratically on flat surfaces. Although they may seem like tough spiders since they squeeze into narrow crevices during the day, their abdomens are soft and squishy to the touch. As was said by my friend Jay: “maybe a tick is attached to the cephalothorax of a huntsman that has the chelicerae of a dysderid.” I could not give a more accurate description of this Gnaphosid spider.

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Afemale flat rock spider with her recently laid egg sacs. After a rainy afternoon, water seeped under the rock she took shelter from, making the substrate moist and comfortable. All spiders in this post photographed after uncovered [2]

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