I was walking my dogs near the University of British Columbia (UBC) today and came across a spider I have not encountered before. It looked like a small tarantula: similar body shape, hairy, black, and rather menacing. I only had my iPhone 4S with me (wish I had the D800 and 105mm VR Micro) and took a few photos before moving on.
It turns out this is a trapdoor spider (or folding-door spider) and fairly common in this area. They are not often seen because they tend to stay in their burrow. This one is specifically Antrodiaetus pacificus, and it is a type of tarantula. It is likely a male out of his burrow in search of a mate.
More info on these guys here (PDF). Also found this great video on Youtube (see below).
Related Posts
Photo: Butterfly
October 15, 2001
Photo: Moth
September 15, 2001
Nikon D800 vs iPhone 4S
August 14, 2012