Scotophaeus

Simon, 1893

mouse spider

Species Guides

1

Scotophaeus is a of ground spiders in the Gnaphosidae, established by Eugène Simon in 1893. The genus contains 61 and two as of 2025. Members are commonly referred to as 'mouse spiders' due to their coloration and appearance. The genus has a wide distribution with substantial citizen science documentation.

Scotophaeus by (c) Julien Tchilinguirian, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Julien Tchilinguirian. Used under a CC-BY license.Scotophaeus by (c) Tone Killick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tone Killick. Used under a CC-BY license.Scotophaeus by (c) Tone Killick, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tone Killick. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Scotophaeus: //ˌskɒtəˈfiːəs//

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Images

Distribution

Records from Denmark (DK), Norway (NO), and Sweden (SE); broader distribution implied by 15,184 iNaturalist observations.

Human Relevance

Scotophaeus blackwalli is noted in anecdotal accounts as a household spider encountered indoors on ceilings and walls.

Sources and further reading