A common yet new described species found widely in Texas. From Allen Dean, " The scytodids in Texas are now known thanks to the revision of the Scytodes in Mexico that appeared several years ago. This species appears to beScytodes atlacoya that was newly described, I have found it to be the most common and widespread in Texas."
Spitting Spiders are known for their interesting hunting and method of subduing prey and perhaps deterring predators. They eject a mixture of silk, toxin and adhesive from greatly enlarged venom glands which quickly ensnares and subdues insects and spiders which make up most of it's prey.
Spitting Spiders build no webs to entrap prey and usually no web of any kind is found associated with the, This individual to the right is only about the size of a nickel but they can be considerably larger in the tropical species.
An interesting paper on these odd animals can be found at HTTP://www.americananachnology.org/joa_free_v33_ni/arac-033-01-0007.pdf I obtained some of the above introduction to this species from this website.
