I found a black furry spider a little larger than a nickel that has a beige-gold hourglass on its back...?

Question

I looked up this spider in images google and what I saw looks almost exactly like the "gnaphosid spider" Are these poisonous?????? The beige-gold shape looks really neat and it almost looks like a arrow fletchet or dagger. The abdomen is fiddle shaped with the silk clippers at the bottom very visible. It's a beautiful spider but it does look like it can be poisonous!

Answer 1

I think your eyes are the best judge, so i will suggest you to see for yourself as to what spider you saw -

http://www.spideridentification.org/

http://www.usq.edu.au/spider/index.htm

http://www.arachnology.be/pages/Identifi...

Answer 2

I believe your talking about a parsons spider, /Herpyllus ecclesiasticus/.

I have seen these spiders too.  While all spiders are venomous, most are harmless.  I have not heard any kind of bite report from this spider, and no kind of extensive research on it's venom, so I think it is safe to say it is of the harmless variety.  It probably can bite you, but the bite would not cause lasting effects.

Answer 3

I'd try looking up a picture of a brown recluse spider to compare the two. This one is VERY poisonous so beware. If it isnt the same then I wouldnt worry too much. Almost all spiders are poisonous but not many harm humans.

Answer 4

Is this him?

http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/spiders/Her...

I don't think he's poisonous.