Striped Fishing Spider
Dolomedes scriptus
This record describes Dolomedes scriptus (species). Recorded family: Dolomedidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Distinguishing Dolomedes vittatus from Dolomedes scriptus males can be rather tricky at times, so here's a couple physical characteristics that I use to tell the two apart: 1.) Generally, the abdominal markings of adult male D. scriptus have a more sculptured appearance, whereas D. vittatus have less-pronounced markings. 2.) The two dark-colored spots in the middle of the cephalothorax are almost always more robust in D. vittatus than the more narrow ones found on D. scriptus . (Brett Tyler, 31Dec2008) Here are some images from the Guide that might help clarify some of this: Dolomedes vittatus Dolomedes scriptus The main difference between scriptus and tenebrosus is that the 'W' pattern on scriptus is outlined in white all the way across the abdomen. The pattern in tenebrosus is broken.. and it generally has less white. It also appears that scriptus has a fuller and more complete median carapace stripe. Dolomedes scriptus Dolomedes tenebrosus Additionally Dolomedes tenebrosus features an inverted v shaped black mark beginning at the AME extending to the edge of the clypeus enclosing a light spot on the anteromedial margin compared to Dolomedes scriptus which is dark only around each eye with a homogenous medium gray clypeus : Dolomedes scriptus Dolomedes tenebrosus
Wikipedia reference for Dolomedes scriptus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolomedes scriptus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Dolomedidae (Fishing Spiders)
- Genus
- Dolomedes (Fishing Spiders)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Most often found on rocky & sunny shores of fast flowing streams.
Geographic Range
Dolomedes scriptus is widely distributed in eastern North America, but only rarely found in the Gulf Coast region.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Insects and small fish.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Dolomedes scriptus Hentz, 1845 Scriptus is Latin for "written". Usually indicates markings that look like writing. Probably referring to the "W" shaped marks on the abdomen.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Dolomedes scriptus. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
As of 2023, 51,673 spider species in 136 families have been recorded, though an estimated 150,000 species exist. Spiders rank 7th in total species diversity among all organism orders. Only 0.5% of spider species pose any risk to human health.
Ecological role of the group
Spider venom contains complex peptides with diverse pharmacological activities, making them valuable for drug development research. Spiders produce up to 7 types of silk from specialized glands. Spider silk genes have been inserted into mammals and plants for biotech applications.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The global spider community kills an estimated 400-800 million tons of prey annually (2017 study). Spiders provide billions of dollars in natural pest control for agriculture. Spider silk is 5× stronger than steel of the same diameter, driving a biomaterials research industry.
Recorded sources for this group: World Spider Catalog, PNAS, Nature, ScienceDirect. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Striped Fishing Spider (6)
Photo credits: (c) Isabelle Pothier, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Isabelle Pothier | (c) Cody Hough, all rights reserved, uploaded by Cody Hough | (c) Matt Flower, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Matt Flower | (c) octobertraveler, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by octobertraveler | Contributed by Eric R. Eaton; Additional contributions by cotinis , john and jane balaban , Lynette Elliott , cheins , Chuck Entz , Laura P. , Nathaniel Green , chuuuuung
Frequently Asked Questions About Striped Fishing Spider
What is Striped Fishing Spider?
Striped Fishing Spider (Dolomedes scriptus) is a species in the family Dolomedidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Striped Fishing Spider?
Distinguishing Dolomedes vittatus from Dolomedes scriptus males can be rather tricky at times, so here's a couple physical characteristics that I use to tell the two apart: 1.) Generally, the abdominal markings of adult male D. scriptus have a more sculptured appearance, whereas D. vittatus have less-pronounced markings. 2.) The two dark-colored spots in the middle of the cephalothorax are almost always more robust in D. vittatus than the more narrow ones found on D. scriptus . (Brett Tyler, 31Dec2008) Here are some images from the Guide that might help clarify some of this: Dolomedes vittatus Dolomedes scriptus The main difference between scriptus and tenebrosus is that the 'W' pattern on scriptus is outlined in white all the way across the abdomen. The pattern in tenebrosus is broken.. and it generally has less white. It also appears that scriptus has a fuller and more complete median carapace stripe. Dolomedes scriptus Dolomedes tenebrosus Additionally Dolomedes tenebrosus features an inverted v shaped black mark beginning at the AME extending to the edge of the clypeus enclosing a light spot on the anteromedial margin compared to Dolomedes scriptus which is dark only around each eye with a homogenous medium gray clypeus : Dolomedes scriptus Dolomedes tenebrosus
Where is Striped Fishing Spider found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Most often found on rocky & sunny shores of fast flowing streams. |
| Range | Dolomedes scriptus is widely distributed in eastern North America, but only rarely found in the Gulf Coast region. |
What does Striped Fishing Spider eat?
The diet of the Striped Fishing Spider includes Insects and small fish..