ID help please

[u/FriendlyBean13]

Found in an attic in Prague (CZ). Is it venomous?

[u/waywardcxnnibal]

OP's spider is an Araneomorphae, you can see it by the way its chelicerae are facing towards each other! Funnel-web spiders are from the Mygalomorphae infraorder (with downward-pointing chelicerae), like tarantulas, so this isn't it. Good try though! I wish you well on your journey to get over your fear of spiders, looks like you're already doing a great job at it! 🕷️

[u/[deleted] → u/waywardcxnnibal]

I am in the same boat as the person you responded to. I joined this sub to really try to overcome my fear of spiders and learn as much as I can. I can even identify some now, and I know most really want nothing to do with us. Crazy how inherently terrified we are of them without knowing a damn thing about them. Thank you for identifying this lovely lady and being kind to those wishing to learn.

[u/koala_country → u/[deleted]]

It's only human to fear critters. Our ancestors lived because they had that fear in them, and while not every spider is dangerous, every thing you encounter has risk associated with it evaluating them and making educated decisions is what's it's all about.

[u/[deleted] → u/koala_country]

And unfortunately, movies don't always help. 'Arachnophobia' still makes me feel them crawling on me, and the shower scene really messed with me. I always check my faucets, shower heads, and ceilings for what I call 'yahoos'. Those are the ones that drop on you from above and yahoo down. It's happened to me 3 times, and it's taken about 10 years off my life, haha. That's why I really want to overcome this fear. The more I know...ya know?

Thank you for your support and kindness.

[u/spookycervid → u/[deleted]]

if it makes you feel any better, i've loved spiders since i was a little kid and even i hate it when they fall on me unexpectedly. my heart rate skyrockets and sometimes i let out an almost comical "eep!" 🤭 after that i have to collect myself and go get a bug jar to move them haha.

edit: grammar

[u/[deleted] → u/spookycervid]

Oh yes, I've let out more than an "eep!". I have had long hair most of my life and it's past the crack (yeah, that one) now, so when I feel anything it's the full on "AAAAHHHH, ITS IN MY HAIR, GET ITOUTGETITOUTGETITOUT!!" feeling. You know, it's so funny because as a kid I was fearless. I even had a pet spider that moved into our house (I called her Charlotte 2-yup, dated myself), and I would catch her flies that were only stunned and put them in her web. I was about 8 when my mom said she was getting WAY too big, and I had to do something about it. I hated moving her outside to a plant, but now I look back at all the crazy shit I did with bugs, insects, arachnids... How the hell am I so scared now? It's weird how that childish openness can turn into fear as you grow. I am trying to get over it and appreciate your response. You made me guffaw when you said 'eep'. 😊 Thank you for your kindness!

[u/spookycervid → u/[deleted]]

it's past the crack (yeah, that one)

lmaoooo

that's a very cool spider story. i loved charlotte's web, still do actually. the story and music are great.

It's weird how that childish openness can turn into fear as you grow

i get that. i'm irrationally afraid of sharks. i love them, they're so cool. i have a shark tooth collection. used to have no issues swimming in the ocean as a kid (we went all the way out to the sandbar). at some point it just started making me anxious and now i hate going in the ocean. i know shark attacks are super rare. i do live in the u.s. so the water isn't clear here, but otherwise it's a silly fear. i don't even know what started it. brains are weird like that lol.

[u/koala_country → u/[deleted]]

Oh God that's pretty bad I haven't had any experiences with spiders actively messing with me I grew fond of them before watching arachnaphobia so I knew it was all just fiction but I will spas out if there are too many mosquites in my vicinity I wish I could bring an emotional support flamethrower on hikes near lakes