Turret Spider
Characteristics: Native to Northern California, the Turret Spider is part of the larger family of "Folding Trapdoor Spiders" that live in self-made burrows dug into the ground. Though other "Trapdoor Spider" types exist, Folding Trapdoor Spiders actually make use of a door or entrance for the burrow, making surprise attacks even more deadly. Turret Spiders, however, do not construct doorways to their burrows and will choose to leave their burrows open all day long.
The Turret Spider follows traditional size guidelines found in other species where the male is sized smaller between 13mm and 16mm and the female is sized larger at between 16mm and 18mm. Identifying colors of Turret Spiders have been seen as varying depending on part of the body, with green and brown to purple brown. The legs might sometimes take a darker brown appearance. Males are discernibly different in that their abdomens might feature up to 3 plate-looking coverings whereas the female has been seen with just a single plate covering the abdomen.
Turret Spiders are found outdoors and mostly limited to wooded areas that include pine tree forests though some make their homes near banks of moving water sources. Favored dietary intake includes ants though just about any smaller insect will do.
Turret Spiders like to forage for food in the nighttime hours and will take to wandering the grounds after generally substantial rainfalls.
General Adult Size (Length):
13mm to 18mm
(0.51in to 0.71in)
Identifying Colors: green, brown, purple
North American reach includes (may not be limited to): California
Category: Spider
Common Name: Turret Spider
Scientific Name: (Atypoides riversi)
 Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Family: Antrodiaetidae
Genus: Atypoides
Species: riversi
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