Black spider I found in my bathroom?

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Tavok London, Canada May 13, 2012

Today I found this black spider that was hiding in my toilet paper roll, he climbed out when it started spinning. I put him into a ziplock baggie with some air holes for easier photo taking, but it turns out I made one of the holes a bit too big and he escaped. I was gone not 30 seconds and when I came back, he was gone It almost seems as if s/he waited until I was gone, so now I am very creeped out.

I live in London Ontario Canada, and I do not believe I have seen this spider before. Does anyone have any idea what it could be? I uploaded a video to YouTube for better identification.

http://youtu.be/cFhnDFcf-6Q

Thanks =)

Edit: I forgot to mention that he is about the size of a nickel when he is moving.

This message was edited May 13, 2012 7:23 PM

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Flapdoodle Minot, ND May 13, 2012

Phidippus audax, a jumping spider - http://dermatology.cdlib.org/DOJvol3num2/centerfold/phidippus.html

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Tavok London, Canada May 13, 2012

Thank you for the quick and accurate reply, I feel a little more at ease but will still try to find him so I can put him outside. I have been using very light bursts of compressed air around my computer desk as not to injure him if I do come across him.

In the description, it says "These spiders do not spin webs", but when I coaxed him out of the roll, he did spin a web and climbed down to the floor where I captured it. Any thoughts?

Thanks again =)

edit: I just read on Wikipedia, "They also use spider silk as a 'lifeline' when jumping for prey or evading predators." which would explain his retreat to the floor.

This message was edited May 13, 2012 8:33 PM

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kwanjin (Zone 7a) May 13, 2012

What that means is they don't use webs for catching prey. The very entertaining Jumping Spiders are active hunters. I have 3 quite large ones in my house right now.

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Tavok London, Canada May 14, 2012

I found him this morning on the wall above my pillow in my bedroom. I re-captured him in a plastic container and released him at the far end of the backyard. So good news for both of us =)

This message was edited May 14, 2012 4:03 AM

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