Longlegged Sac Spider - Clubiona obesa

Moved

… tom murray, 9 July, 2009 - 7:20pm

Clubiona obesa (kmp-5721)

This is Clubiona obesa.

Distinctive and highly visible epigyne. Dondale and Redner give as range: Manitoba to Newfoundland, southward to Mississippi and North Carolina.

In retrospect (as always) it seems clear: leg pair I is much too short for Cheiracanthium and the dorsal groove (now) seems quite conspicuous.

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 9 July, 2009 - 6:05pm

Moved

Moved from Sac Spiders.

… tom murray, 9 June, 2009 - 5:25pm

Hmmm, I would have said Cheir

Hmmm, I would have said Cheiracanthium (Miturgidae)but maybe that's because I have them on my brain right now. Is there much difference between the eyes of the two families?

Feel free to save this one, Tom, if you still have it.

-K

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 9 June, 2009 - 5:16pm

sac spider vs. long-legged sac spider

I have not mastered the art of distinguishing between these two. I have one of my own images sitting out just for that reason. See

. I find the eye arrangements very similar and usually only can tell it's a long-legged sac spider when it has certain markings and quite long legs. I'll be happy to know what this one turns out to be.

Cheiracanthium are distinguished from the closely related species of Clubiona by lacking a conspicuous dorsal groove in the midline of the carapace.... see more here ..(1)

Finally, it's no wonder we have a hard time distinguishing the two since some experts don't acknowledge splitting them off from sac spiders as a 'justified emendation'.

… Lynette Elliott, 9 June, 2009 - 9:57pm

> by lacking a conspicuous do

> by lacking a conspicuous dorsal groove in the midline of the carapace

Yes, I had forgotten that. (I like Lissner, too -- lots of good information.) Here the line seems to be present, don't you think? Your picture is good -- the first leg pair just feels "short" for Cheiracanthium.

@Tom: I'd generally trust Lynette rather than follow my speculative musings (I'll tell you outright if I should ever feel "sure" she's wrong (the otherway around is more likely). If only we could get them to stretch out their front legs on command.

-K

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 9 June, 2009 - 10:43pm

My spider

I added another image...trying to see the groove...unfortunately it's a bit blurry. The legs look longer in the new image, but that's mainly because the first pair is out and the second pair is folded. I still get the long-legged feel... on my image, but just can't decide.

… Lynette Elliott, 9 June, 2009 - 11:55pm

Ah, I see, so you think your

Ah, I see, so you think your spider might be a Cheiracanthium. Well, maybe couple hundred specimens later we'll get better at this. :-)

-K (was surprised to see your response already, but I guess the West Coast is just now turning out the lights)

… Kevin Pfeiffer, 10 June, 2009 - 12:09am

Yes, up past my bedtime :)

I'm hoping they will just put them back in with the sac spiders and then we won't have to worry about it. HA!

… Lynette Elliott, 10 June, 2009 - 12:13am

Sac Spider

You got it right. Even the eye arrangement matches.

… tom murray, 9 June, 2009 - 4:39pm

btw

magnificent shots, as usual.

… Lynette Elliott, 9 June, 2009 - 4:50pm

Sac Spider

I'm fairly certain this is something in the Clubionidae.

… Lynette Elliott, 9 June, 2009 - 3:08pm