brown spider on white surface

A brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa). Many other spiders are often misidentified as a brown recluse and killed (I don't condone killing a brown recluse and this one was released after the photoshoot). For those that don't know, this is one of two spiders in the southeast United States whose venom is something to be concerned about The venom of a brown recluse is a hemotoxin, which means it destroys red blood cells. In some cases, it can cause necrosis (rotting) flesh and systemic infections. They are normally docile - so it is something to be respected but not afraid of.