Mediterranean "toothed jaws" spider found in Netherlands for first time

A Mediterranean spider species has been found on the Dutch and Belgian coast for the first time. The Enoplognatha mandibularis spider belongs to the “toothed jaw” genus and the “ball spider” family, and does not yet have a Dutch name, the Flemish nature organization Natuurpunt announced in the Journal of the Belgian Arachnological Society.

The spider was already observed in 2022 and 2023. The male has a noticeably enlarged jaw with protrusions that look like teeth. The spider is harmless to humans and typically found around the Mediterranean, North Africa, Turkey, and Central Asia. Males measure 2.2 to 6 millimeters, females 2.4 to 8 millimeters.

The Netherlands’ sighting was at the Het Zwin nature reserve at the mouth of the Westerschelde in October 2023. “Although this concerns one individual for the time being, the discovery is important because it establishes the presence of the species in the Netherlands,” the researchers said.

“The fact that this species has now been found for the first time in two countries at the same time shows how quickly nature is changing,” the nature organization said. “Southern species are increasingly expanding their habitat to the north.”