Clubiona canadensis

Emerton, 1890

Canada Sac Spider

Clubiona canadensis is a of sac spider in the Clubionidae, first described by Emerton in 1890. It is distributed across northern North America, with records from multiple Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, and Manitoba, as well as the United States. As a member of the sac spider family, it likely constructs silken retreats rather than prey-capture webs, though specific details of its remain poorly documented.

Common Spiders U.S. 055-7 by James Henry Emerton (1847 – 1931). Used under a Public domain license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Clubiona canadensis: /kluːˈbaɪə.nə ˌkænəˈdɛnsɪs/

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Identification

Sac spiders in the Clubiona can be distinguished from the superficially similar longlegged sac spiders (genus Cheiracanthium, Eutichuridae) by two key characters: Clubiona possesses a distinct groove in the center of the , and has a tuft of curved setae on the front edge of the . Cheiracanthium lacks both of these features. Specific diagnostic characters for C. canadensis itself are not well documented in available sources.

Images

Distribution

Recorded from Canada (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba) and the United States. The name 'canadensis' reflects its Canadian type locality, though its full range within North America is not precisely defined.

Similar Taxa

Cheiracanthium spp.Formerly classified in Clubionidae, these 'longlegged sac spiders' are now placed in Eutichuridae. They lack the groove and abdominal setal tuft present in Clubiona, and are more commonly encountered indoors.

More Details

Taxonomic Note

The Clubionidae has undergone significant revision, with many former members (including Cheiracanthium) reassigned to other families. Clubiona canadensis remains in the core Clubionidae, but -level in this group is challenging and may require revision.