Sac spiders

Families Clubionidae, Gnaphosidae, Corinnidae

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Sac spiders are spiders that make a kind of silken sac in which they lay their eggs.
The following families are included in the common named group of "Sac spiders":
Anyphaenidae, Tengellidae, Zorocratidae, Miturgidae, Liocranidae, and on this page the Clubionidae, Corinnidae and Gnaphosidae.


Family Corinnidae

Worldwide this family contains 75 genera with over 900 species mostly in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. Many of the species mimic ants on which they hunt.
Nyssus coloripes<empty>

Nyssus coloripes, previous name Supunna picta,

The Orange-legged Swift spider or Nyssus coloripes is one of the fastest spiders in Australia. While running, it waves its two forelegs above its body, mimicking the two antennas of a wasp.
The front two legs have a brown tinge. Male and females are identical and their length varies between 5 and 7 mm.
This species is closely related to much larger Supunna albopunctum (7 - 12 mm) but this spider has two rows of white dashed spots on its abdomen.
In autumn and winter the females construct a flat very white disc shaped egg-sac of 5 - 6 mm. The spider feeds on ground dwelling insects and spiders.

Nyssus coloripes
Nyssus coloripes  
Nyssus coloripes Nyssus coloripes
Nyssus coloripes Nyssus coloripes
Supunna albopunctum Nyssus albopunctatus
Nyssus albopunctatus was Supunna albopuntum (was funerea) by Jurgen Otto Nyssus albopunctatus by Jurgen Otto
Battalus spinipes Battalus spinipes
Battalus spinipes juvenile by Robert Whyte Battalus spinipes by Robert Whyte


Family Clubiona

In Australia Clubiona are predominantly found under the bark of eucalyptus trees. Clubiona robustus is a common found clubionid.
The size of these spiders is 9 -15 mm. They usually have a long, narrow body and are light brown to darker brown spiders. Their jaws are ofther broad and black of colour.
The spider often constructs a tubular silken retreat. Fourteen species are described in Australia.

Clubiona species ZZ677 from Lane Cove National Park, Sydney (by Roy Barnes )
Clubiona ZZ395 Clubiona ZZ395
Clubiona ZZ395 Clubiona ZZ395
Clubiona modesta Clubiona robusta
Clubiona modesta Clubiona robusta
Clubiona ZZ558
Clubiona ZZ558 Clubiona ZZ558
Clubiona ZZ554 Clubiona ZZ554
Clubiona ZZ554 Clubiona ZZ554
Clubiona ZZ555 Clubiona ZZ555
Clubiona ZZ555 Clubiona ZZ555
Clubiona ZZ143 Clubiona ZZ143
Clubiona ZZ143 egg sac with eggs Clubiona ZZ143
Clubiona ZZ340 Clubiona ZZ340
Clubiona ZZ340 Clubiona ZZ340 by Jurgen Otto

Family Gnaphosidae

This genus is in appearance closely related to the family Clubionidae.
Although this family consists of almost 2000 valid species, the family becomes smaller and smaller for the Australian continent.

Recently several flat spiders (Hemicloea) were moved to the family Trochanteriidae.


Gnaphosid spiders have large cylindrical spinners. The abdomen has no clear markings and their colouring ranges between grayish brown and black. They are nocturnal hunters and spent the day in a silken retreat.


The females make their thick walled egg sacs in the summer and guard it until the youngsters are born.

Eilica ZZ424
  Eilica ZZ424 by Fahran Bokhari
Gnaphosidae youngsters Gnaphosidae youngsters
Gnaphosidae youngsters  
ZZ146
Gnaphosid?ZZ146 from Nelson Victoria Gnaphosid?ZZ146 from Nelson Victoria

 


Ed Nieuwenhuys, 22 july 2020

22 july 2020, 23 October 2016, 13 april 2016, 3 November 2015,16 april 2011, 27 December 2006

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