[Astrokev]

This was poised on the ceiling above my wife's bed in our holiday villa near Polis last week, ready to pounce. This naturally sent her phobia into overdrive!

Not the best of images as, to be honest, I didn't want to get too close to it, and I was precariously balanced on a chair with camera held at arms length. I'm hopeful and would be grateful if someone could confirm an ID for me. Overall size I'd estimate as 5-6cm and it was the biggest spider I've ever seen.

Managed to catch it in a glass tumbler and release it outside - it was a quick mover!

Many thanks.

Kevin

[Gashead]

Tarantula? (Chaetopelma karlamani)? There's a couple of species of tarantula on Cyprus. We also have something that looks like a red back on our terrace (near Paralimni) but I don't think it is one.

Buggered if I'd go near that one though Kevin.

[Gashead]

BTW as someone who has (falsely portrayed) a laissez faire attitude to spiders for my whole life... but now can admit I hate the little buggers. Your comment 'ready to pounce' is interesting. Are you a specialist in arachnid muscular positioning? Or are you just as petrified of them as I am?

[Astrokev]

Originally Posted by Gashead

BTW as someone who has (falsely portrayed) a laissez faire attitude to spiders for my whole life... but now can admit I hate the little buggers. Your comment 'ready to pounce' is interesting. Are you a specialist in arachnid muscular positioning? Or are you just as petrified of them as I am?

The latter. No specialist knowledge of arachnids whatsoever, other than knowing they have 8 legs!

Tarantula - that's interesting. It does/did look very tarantula like (although somewhat smaller than the mental image this name conjures up). I'll look up your suggested scientific name. Many thanks.

Anybody else confirm this or offer other possibilities?