This one was seen yesterday in a very sandy dune area of North Holland. The image is surprisingly deceptive - though it looks massive was only about 1cm long (the biggest spider I have taken a piccie of to date!).
I couldn't get a picture of the eye settings as (in a complete role reversal) he was running away from me, but you can just see 4 eyes from this position.
First thoughts are possibly Alopecosa species of the Lycosidae. A.barbipes has similarities but would need a better picture showing the side elevation of the legs I to enable better i.d.
Not a species I'm familiar with at any rate, so a rough guess at best. I'll ponder some more!
The legs are darkened and swollen in the males of Alopecosa. Can't think of any other Lycosidae with swollen leg sections off hand, though some have darkened legs such as Trochosa.
I am only guessing on this one.
Linear Mode
