Clubiona saltitans
Emerton, 1919
Clubiona saltitans is a sac spider in the Clubionidae, described by Emerton in 1919. The name "saltitans" (Latin for "jumping" or "dancing") may allude to its active movement. Sac spiders in this are wandering hunters that construct silken retreats rather than prey-capture webs. They are primarily of small insects and other arthropods. The genus Clubiona is distinguished from similar sac spiders by the presence of a distinct groove in the center of the and a tuft of curved setae on the front edge of the .
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Clubiona saltitans: /kluːˈbaɪoʊnə ˈsæl.tɪ.tænz/
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Identification
Distinguished from the superficially similar Cheiracanthium (longlegged sac spiders, Eutichuridae) by two key characters: Clubiona possesses a distinct longitudinal 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. Clubiona also tend to be encountered outdoors more frequently than the Cheiracanthium species.
Distribution
Recorded from the United States and Canada.
Behavior
Constructs silken retreats ("sacs") for shelter during daylight hours. Hunts actively on foot at night rather than building prey-capture webs. Uses tarsal claw tufts—densely packed hairs on the feet—to grip smooth surfaces, enabling rapid movement across vertical and inverted surfaces.
Similar Taxa
- Cheiracanthium mildeiAlso a pale, wandering spider found in similar ; distinguished by lack of groove and abdominal setal tuft
- Cheiracanthium inclusumSimilar habitus and ; distinguished by same morphological characters separating all Cheiracanthium from Clubiona
More Details
Taxonomic note
The Clubionidae has undergone significant revision. Formerly, Cheiracanthium was classified in Clubionidae, but molecular and morphological studies led to its placement in Eutichuridae in 2014. This historical confusion contributes to ongoing difficulty in distinguishing these in field identification.