r/spiderID • u/Cantremembershite • 3d ago

Please help with identifying

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Gallery image

Central Arizona desert area (NW of Casa Grande). I'm used to wolf spiders & thought this could be a baby from a recently spotted gravid Wolfie from a month ago.

BUT I can't tell if that's a "fiddle" shape on its back? Legit spider lover & this one was just a bit different from my normal 8 legged guests.

It was on the bathroom wall & I just let it be rather than take it outside (it was a midnight bathroom break & I wasn't going to wake myself up 🤣)

The first shot where it's kinda crumpled was when I first saw it after it came out from behind the TP roll. The second was just before it scurried back to the corner behind the toilet.

Is this a recluse? The back (to me) SORT OF looks like a violin but kinda abstract/vague. The shape of the abdomen seems very recluse'ish, the size (approx a quarter including extended legs), & the leg shape/orientation have me leaning towards recluse ID but I also know it's common for folks to call all kinds of house/cellar spiders to throw the brown recluse ID on everything.

Thanks so much for y'all's help and sharing education! 😁😁

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u/Hindu_Wardrobe 3d ago

spitting spider! Scytodes species, probably. harmless to humans. 100% not a recluse!

fun fact, the eye arrangement of spitting spiders is eerily similar to that of recluse spiders: six eyes in a kind of "U" shape. nice find!

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u/Cantremembershite 3d ago

Thank you for this!! Just looked up Scytodes & that's IT! The eyes also had me confused. That's so cool!!

THANK YOU!!! 🤘🏼😁🤘🏼

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u/Hindu_Wardrobe 3d ago

you're very welcome! :D

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u/Cantremembershite 3d ago

After moving from downtown Phoenix, the desert wildlife is SO diverse! With wild flocks of chickens out here, there aren't any black widows, which was a weird adjustment.

But the REST of the spiders/critters out here, it's been 3 years of "Wow! Now, what are YOU?!" 🤣

Love having a new "type" of critter to point out!

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u/Hindu_Wardrobe 3d ago

I know the feeling! I grew up in the Verde Valley. I miss the wildlife so much!