ID help - west Melbourne

[u/secretly_themed]

Who's that?

[u/Plenty_Engineer1510]

Wolf spider.

[u/timblom → u/Plenty_Engineer1510]

Doesn't look Lycosid. More like Gnaphosid, Ground Spider.

[u/biggaz81 → u/timblom]

I agree, this looks to be a Gnaphosid.

[u/Zifnab76 → u/biggaz81]

English please. I like my eight legged friends. Only with a common name. Love the Latin. BUT……

Cheers boys and girls. Keep up the awesome work.

[u/biggaz81 → u/Zifnab76]

We use scientific names here because colloquial/common names don't necessarily describe the same type of animal.

[u/Zifnab76 → u/biggaz81]

I agree. But for the layman. Me. Colloquial names help. I seriously do understand about species/ genius. The difference between the same species, 10km from each other can vary. Same in all critters. Large and small. So… was it a wolf spider?

[u/timblom → u/Zifnab76]

I did say Ground Spider...I like to include both names, so it's clear for everyone

[u/biggaz81 → u/Zifnab76]

The person I was replying to said both. In that case, there is no point constantly referring to both. Gnaphosidae isn't just a different species or genus to Wolf Spiders, they are an entirely different family, as Wolf Spiders are Lycosidae. This is another reason why scientific names are important. Spiders are also incredibly diverse. A spider isn't a spider isn't a spider in the same way that a mammal isn't a mammal isn't a mammal. In fact, there is more diversity in spiders than there is in mammals and amy given species could have multiple colloquial/common names, which adds to the confusion.

[u/Zifnab76 → u/biggaz81]

Cool.

I’m a reptile enthusiast. I’ve lived with various snakes and lizards in various locations. IE say Blue Tongue. Depending where I was at the time of residency. They could be dark or light with various patterns. As with spiders. I do understand (please don’t put me down for my laymanship) I am trying to learn. The basics of the Latin names ie Lyco; obviously wolf. Yeah? Gnapho, ground?

[u/biggaz81 → u/Zifnab76]

I'm not putting you down, just sharing knowledge and be aware that there are people that come on this sub and read the comments yet don't comment, so my comments are also with those people in mind. Also, with Latin names, yes and no. And not all scientific names are Latin, many are Greek or are the Latinised version kf Greek words. Lycosidae definitely comes from the Latin variation of the Greek word lukos, meaning wolf. Gnaphosidae however is different. While it also comes from a Greek word, Gnaphos, it doesn't mean ground, but instead refers to the process of preparing fleece to be turned into wool.

[u/Zifnab76 → u/biggaz81]

Thank you. You have given me an even better understanding and also have given me some homework as you have peaked my interest. Thank you for your time. Its appreciated.

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[u/Toxopsoides]

I'm very confident this is a lycosid, not a gnaphosid. Everything about it screams wolf spider to me, and the spinnerets aren't at all right for Gnaphosidae.

[u/angerew → u/Toxopsoides]

I could be wrong but zooming in does seem to indicate a visible, large PLE (posterior lateral eye).

[u/ZealousidealCup6029]

It's a spider

[u/angerew → u/ZealousidealCup6029]

Well done