I've spent the day working though an enormous pile of Tenuiphantes tenuis. They're not only the most common spider in VC55, they're also a right pain to separate. Which is were two top tips come in.
Top Tip No. 1: Tenuiphantes or Bathyphantes?
Easy - Tenuiphantes have a proximal dorsal spine on metatarsus I, Bathyphantes don't.
Top Tip No. 2: Which Tenuiphantes species?
These are both Tenuiphantes tenuis:
With males, the palps are confusingly similar too - until you know to check the paracymbium:
No more confusion. Thanks to Tylan Berry.
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