The raft spider, scientific name Dolomedes fimbriatus, is a large semi-aquatic spider of the family Pisauridae found throughout north-western and central Europe.[2] It is one of only two species of the genus Dolomedes found in Europe, the other being the slightly larger Dolomedesplantarius which is endangered in the UK.[3]
Raft spiders are semi-aquatic and adults inhabit freshwater wetlands, specifically wet heaths and acid swamps;[4] although juveniles are predominantly found in terrestrial vegetation surrounding wetland areas.[4] Adults are dark brown with a conspicuous white, cream or yellow stripe along both sides of their abdomen and thorax. Juveniles are similar in appearance but often have green translucent legs. As is common in other spiders, female raft spiders (body length: 9–22mm) are usually larger than males (body length (9-15mm).[5] Dolomedes fimbriatus was described in chapter 5 of the book Svenska Spindlar by the Swedish arachnologist and entomologist Carl Alexander Clerck. It is the type species of its genus.
Behaviouredit
Like many other species of the genus Dolomedes (Greek translation= crafty or wily),[6] the raft spider typically hunts on the surface of the water with its front appendages outstretched and relies on aquatic vibrations to detect prey.[7] Juveniles are thought mainly to hunt in terrestrial vegetation.[8] Their diet consists largely of freshwater invertebrates such as water beetles, pond striders and dragonfly larvae, but they occasionally feed on small vertebrates such as sticklebacks and small frogs.[4] To avoid predation by birds, the raft spider can fully submerge itself in water and has been known to hide underwater for several minutes.[8]
As is the case with some other Dolomedes species, Dolomedes fimbriatus is sexually cannibalistic, meaning that the female will sometimes eat the male before, during or immediately after mating.[9][10] Males will try to court the female and prevent her from attacking by signalling their presence using vibrations on the female dragline.[11] However, Dolomedes fimbriatus is one of the few species known to attempt to attack nearly all approaching males.[11] This behaviour is regarded as unusual among biologists as it can prevent both the male and the female from copulating successfully.[12]
If successful copulation takes place, the female will carry her fertilised egg sac around with her, before placing the egg sac inside a silken nursery tent that she has made. The female will then guard the nursery until the spiderlings are ready to disperse into the surrounding habitat.[13]
Juvenile raft spider
Dolomedes fimbriatus (video)
Female raft spider carrying egg sack
Juvenile Dolomedes fimbriatus
Referencesedit
^ ab"Taxon details Dolomedes fimbriatus (Clerck, 1757)", World Spider Catalog, Natural History Museum Bern, retrieved 2017-09-13
^"Summary for Dolomedes fimbriatus (Araneae)". srs.britishspiders.org.uk. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
^"Welcome to the web site dedicated to the fen raft spider | Dolomedes.org.uk". www.dolomedes.org.uk. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
^"Courtship Behavior and Sexual Cannibalism in the Semi-Aquatic Fishing Spider, Dolomedes fimbriatus (Clerck) (Araneae: Pisauridae)". The Journal of Arachnology. 1992.
^Johnson, J. Chadwick; Sih, Andrew (2005). "Precopulatory sexual cannibalism in fishing spiders (Dolomedes triton): a role for behavioral syndromes". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 58 (4): 390–396. doi:10.1007/s00265-005-0943-5. S2CID 20652406.
^ abKralj-Fišer, Simona; Čandek, Klemen; Lokovšek, Tjaša; Čelik, Tatjana; Cheng, Ren-Chung; Elgar, Mark A.; Kuntner, Matjaž (2016). "Mate choice and sexual size dimorphism, not personality, explain female aggression and sexual cannibalism in raft spiders". Animal Behaviour. 111: 49–55. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.10.013. S2CID 54282825.
^"Sexual cannibalism and population viability". Ecology and Evolution. 2018.
^"Life history | Dolomedes.org.uk". www.dolomedes.org.uk. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
Further readingedit
Arnqvist, G. (1992). "Courtship behavior and sexual cannibalism in the semi-aquatic fishing spider, Dolomedes fimbriatus (Clerck)(Araneae: Pisauridae)" (PDF). Journal of Arachnology: 222–226.
External linksedit
Data related to Raft spider at Wikispecies
Media related to Dolomedes fimbriatus at Wikimedia Commons
Raft spider at Digital Wildlife
January 01, 1970
raft, spider, raft, spider, scientific, name, dolomedes, fimbriatus, large, semi, aquatic, spider, family, pisauridae, found, throughout, north, western, central, europe, only, species, genus, dolomedes, found, europe, other, being, slightly, larger, dolomedes. The raft spider scientific name Dolomedes fimbriatus is a large semi aquatic spider of the family Pisauridae found throughout north western and central Europe 2 It is one of only two species of the genus Dolomedes found in Europe the other being the slightly larger Dolomedes plantarius which is endangered in the UK 3 Raft spider Raft spider attack position Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Subphylum Chelicerata Class Arachnida Order Araneae Infraorder Araneomorphae Family Pisauridae Genus Dolomedes Species D fimbriatus Binomial name Dolomedes fimbriatus Clerck 1757 1 Synonyms 1 Araneus fimbriatus Clerck 1757 Contents 1 Habitat and description 2 Behaviour 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHabitat and description edit nbsp Juvenile raft spider Raft spiders are semi aquatic and adults inhabit freshwater wetlands specifically wet heaths and acid swamps 4 although juveniles are predominantly found in terrestrial vegetation surrounding wetland areas 4 Adults are dark brown with a conspicuous white cream or yellow stripe along both sides of their abdomen and thorax Juveniles are similar in appearance but often have green translucent legs As is common in other spiders female raft spiders body length 9 22mm are usually larger than males body length 9 15mm 5 Dolomedes fimbriatus was described in chapter 5 of the book Svenska Spindlar by the Swedish arachnologist and entomologist Carl Alexander Clerck It is the type species of its genus Behaviour editLike many other species of the genus Dolomedes Greek translation crafty or wily 6 the raft spider typically hunts on the surface of the water with its front appendages outstretched and relies on aquatic vibrations to detect prey 7 Juveniles are thought mainly to hunt in terrestrial vegetation 8 Their diet consists largely of freshwater invertebrates such as water beetles pond striders and dragonfly larvae but they occasionally feed on small vertebrates such as sticklebacks and small frogs 4 To avoid predation by birds the raft spider can fully submerge itself in water and has been known to hide underwater for several minutes 8 As is the case with some other Dolomedes species Dolomedes fimbriatus is sexually cannibalistic meaning that the female will sometimes eat the male before during or immediately after mating 9 10 Males will try to court the female and prevent her from attacking by signalling their presence using vibrations on the female dragline 11 However Dolomedes fimbriatus is one of the few species known to attempt to attack nearly all approaching males 11 This behaviour is regarded as unusual among biologists as it can prevent both the male and the female from copulating successfully 12 If successful copulation takes place the female will carry her fertilised egg sac around with her before placing the egg sac inside a silken nursery tent that she has made The female will then guard the nursery until the spiderlings are ready to disperse into the surrounding habitat 13 nbsp Juvenile raft spider source source source source source source Dolomedes fimbriatus video nbsp Female raft spider carrying egg sack nbsp Juvenile Dolomedes fimbriatusReferences edit a b Taxon details Dolomedes fimbriatus Clerck 1757 World Spider Catalog Natural History Museum Bern retrieved 2017 09 13 Summary for Dolomedes fimbriatus Araneae srs britishspiders org uk Retrieved 2019 03 01 Welcome to the web site dedicated to the fen raft spider Dolomedes org uk www dolomedes org uk Retrieved 2019 03 02 a b c Biology Dolomedes org uk www dolomedes org uk Retrieved 2019 03 02 araneae Dolomedes fimbriatus araneae nmbe ch Retrieved 2019 03 01 Clerck Carl Alexander 1757 Svenska Spindlar Sweden Bleckmann Horst Rovner Jerome S 1984 Sensory ecology of a semi aquatic spider Dolomedes triton Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 14 4 297 301 doi 10 1007 bf00299501 S2CID 1893217 a b Raft Spiders Dolomedes fimbriatus UK Safari www uksafari com Retrieved 2019 03 01 Courtship Behavior and Sexual Cannibalism in the Semi Aquatic Fishing Spider Dolomedes fimbriatus Clerck Araneae Pisauridae The Journal of Arachnology 1992 Johnson J Chadwick Sih Andrew 2005 Precopulatory sexual cannibalism in fishing spiders Dolomedes triton a role for behavioral syndromes Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 58 4 390 396 doi 10 1007 s00265 005 0943 5 S2CID 20652406 a b Kralj Fiser Simona Candek Klemen Lokovsek Tjasa Celik Tatjana Cheng Ren Chung Elgar Mark A Kuntner Matjaz 2016 Mate choice and sexual size dimorphism not personality explain female aggression and sexual cannibalism in raft spiders Animal Behaviour 111 49 55 doi 10 1016 j anbehav 2015 10 013 S2CID 54282825 Sexual cannibalism and population viability Ecology and Evolution 2018 Life history Dolomedes org uk www dolomedes org uk Retrieved 2019 03 02 Further reading editArnqvist G 1992 Courtship behavior and sexual cannibalism in the semi aquatic fishing spider Dolomedes fimbriatus Clerck Araneae Pisauridae PDF Journal of Arachnology 222 226 External links edit nbsp Data related to Raft spider at Wikispecies nbsp Media related to Dolomedes fimbriatus at Wikimedia Commons Raft spider at Digital Wildlife Raft spider photos Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Raft spider amp oldid 1104452065, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
