''Lepthyphantes minutus'' is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

spider Spiders (order (biology), order Araneae) are air-breathing arthropods that have eight limbs, chelicerae with fangs generally able to inject venom, and spinnerets that extrude spider silk, silk. They are the largest order of arachnids and ran ...

belonging to the family

Linyphiidae Linyphiidae, spiders commonly known as sheet weavers (from the shape of their webs), or money spiders (in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Portugal) is a family of very small spiders comprising 4706 described species in 6 ...

.Roberts, Michael J. (1996) ''Collins Field Guide - Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe'', Collins, , p. 358Jones, Dick (1989) ''A Guide to Spiders of Britain and Northern Europe'' (revised edition), Hamlyn, , p. 286 Despite its name it is one of the larger species of Lepthyphantes. It is found throughout Northern Europe. The body length excluding legs is about . The

carapace A carapace is a dorsal (upper) section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods, such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates, such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tortoises, the unde ...

is dark brown. The

abdomen The abdomen (colloquially called the gut, belly, tummy, midriff, tucky, or stomach) is the front part of the torso between the thorax (chest) and pelvis in humans and in other vertebrates. The area occupied by the abdomen is called the abdominal ...

typically has black pattern with gold spots, and the legs are annulated, distinguishing it from similar species. The palpal patella of the male has a large spine, which is thicker than those on its legs.Savory, Theodore (1945) ''The Spiders & Allied Orders of the British Isles'', Warne, p. 112 ''Lepthyphantes minutus'' is usually found on tree trunks, under logs, or around houses.

References

External links

Lepthyphantes minutus
Spider and Harvestman Recording Scheme website Linyphiidae Spiders of Europe Spiders described in 1833 {{Linyphiidae-stub