About Atypus karschi Dönitz, 1887
Atypus karschi is a species of spider first described by Dönitz in 1887. These spiders are black or dark brown, and have a body length ranging from 17 to 20 millimeters (0.67 to 0.79 inches). Like other mygalomorphs, they have large, downward-pointing chelicerae relative to their body size. Atypus karschi is primarily found in Asia, and there is also an established population in southeastern Pennsylvania, United States. This North American population was previously classified as a separate species, but genetic testing has confirmed it is the same species as Asian Atypus karschi. This spider inhabits fields, wooded areas, slopes, suburban areas, and riparian zones.
