Unknown EOO or AOO.

This species is known only from Mexico, in southern Sinaloa near Durango border. It is notable that the only record is from 1965 (Shear 1970).

No population size estimates exist.

This species has been recorded from deep wet crevices of rocky areas (Shear 1970).

Oecobids usually build mesh-webs that are shaped like stars or multilayered webs that are often found in cracks on rocks or other hard surfaces. These spiders catch their prey by binding silk around it (Jocqué and Dippenaar-Schoeman 2006). The feeding ecology of most Oecobius species is poorly understood, however, it has been shown that myrmecophagy is common among this genus and these species may be locally specialized predators (García et al. 2014). For instance, Oecobius annulipes is commonly in nests of a large ant species, Plagiolepis pygmaea, which constitutes its main prey (Glatz 1967).

No known threats.

Unknown EOO or AOO.

Known only from the unspecified type locality in Jordan, recorded prior to 1872 (Pickard-Cambridge 1872).

Population size and trend are unknown.

The single known specimen was found in the "plains of Jordan" (Pickard-Cambridge 1872) which suggests this species occurs in grasslands and shrubs. However, since the exact locality is unspecified, the habitat preference of this particular species remains unknown.

Oecobids usually build mesh-webs that are shaped like stars or multilayered webs that are often found from cracks on rocks or other hard surfaces. These spiders catch their prey by binding silk around it (Jocqué and Dippenaar-Schoeman 2006). The feeding ecology of most Oecobius species is poorly understood, however, it has been shown that myrmecophagy is common among this genus and these species may be locally specialized predators (García et al. 2014). For instance, Oecobius annulipes is commonly found in the nests of a large ant species, Plagiolepis pygmaea, which is their main prey (Glatz 1967).

No known threats.

Unknown EOO or AOO.

This species was found in Kimweza town, near Kinshasa in Congo, prior to 1964 (Benoit 1964).

No population size estimates exist.

This species was found in a nest of Cubitermes exiguus termites (Benoit 1964). The genus is known only from steppe-type savannas in Africa (Bouillon 1977).

Oonopids are nocturnal active hunters that live free on the ground. These spiders have been recorded from different kinds of habitats from dry dunelands to forested areas, human constructions, other spiders' webs and termite nests. Since Oonopids hunt at night, they tend to hide under stones or in dry plant debris or leaf litter during the day. The egg-sac is covered with fluffy silk. Little is known about the behaviour of Caecoonops species in the termite nests, however, these spiders have lost their eyes due to adaptation to living in these nests (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997).

No known threats.

Given the relatively high number of records (Simon 1893a) it was possible to perform species distribution modelling (see methods for details).

This species is known from Venezuela and should be present from Caracas to Valencia and Barquisimeto (Simon 1893a). It is notable that the records are over 100 years old.

No population size estimates exist.

This species has been recorded in a relatively mountainous region belonging to the ecoregion of desert and xeric shrublands (Olson et al. 2001). Otherwise, its preferred habitat is unknown.

Oonopids are nocturnal active hunters that live free on the ground. These spiders have been recorded from different kinds of habitats from dry dunelands to forested areas, human constructions, other spiders' webs and termite nests. Since Oonopids hunt at night they tend to hide under stones or in dry plant debris or leaf litter during the day. The egg-sac is covered with fluffy silk (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997).

No known threats.

There are several protected areas within the predicted historical range of this species (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2017).

Unknown EOO or AOO.

Only reported from St. Augustine, on the university campus (GBIF.org 18th May 2018a) in the Northwest corner of the Island of Trinidad. The region sits between the Caroni Swamp National Park and a well preserved mountain range to the North. The island of Trinidad is less than 20 km east of the Gulf of Paria (Venezuela), separated only by the Bocas del Dragon strait, which contains the small Monos island of Chacachacare, which could reduce that distance to little more than 10km. The region where the species was found is therefore not isolated, and although it would not be surprising that the species is highly restricted biogeographically, the connectivity of the terrain alone, does allow suspecting it.

No population size estimates exist.

This species was reported only once from the university campus (GBIF.org 18th May 2018a) in the Northwest corner of the Island of Trinidad. The region sits between the Caroni Swamp National Park and a well preserved mountain range to the North.

Oonopids are nocturnal active hunters that live free on the ground. These spiders have been recorded from different kinds of habitats from dry dunelands to forested areas, human constructions, other spiders' webs and termite nests. Since Oonopids hunt at night they tend to hide under stones or in dry plant debris or leaf litter during the day. The egg-sac is covered with fluffy silk (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997).

No known threats.

Unknown EOO or AOO.

This species was collected only once in Parque Nacional Napo-Galeras, Napo, Ecuador on 27 November 2009 on the Niarchos Expedition (Platnick and Dupérré 2011).

No population size estimates exist.

Found in leaf litter of tropical forest at an elevation of 1005 m in Parque Nacional Napo-Galeras, which is a protected area in Ecuador with an altitudinal range of 600-3723 m (Platnick and Dupérré 2011).

Oonopids are tiny nocturnal hunters usually found living on the ground in leaf litter or under rocks (Bradley 2013). They have been recorded from many different kinds of habitats ranging from dry dunelands to forested areas, human constructions, other spiders' webs and termite nests. Oonopids are not known to make capture webs and hunt at night tending to hide under stones or in dry plant debris or leaf litter during the day. They make silken molting chambers and their egg sac is covered with fluffy silk (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997, Bradley 2013). Scaphidysderina is a newly described genus with little data on their ecology (Platnick and Dupérré 2011).

No known threats

This species was found in Parque Nacional Napo-Galeras, which is a protected area in Ecuador (Platnick and Dupérré 2011).

Unknown EOO or AOO.

This species is known only from the type locality in Ecuador, recorded in 1976 (Platnick and Dupérré 2010).

No population size estimates exist.

A single specimen was found from tropical forest litter at an elevation of 600m (Platnick and Dupérré 2010).

Oonopids are tiny nocturnal hunters usually found living on the ground in leaf litter or under rocks (Bradley 2013). They have been recorded from many different kinds of habitats ranging from dry dunelands to forested areas, human constructions, other spiders' webs and termite nests. Oonopids are not known to make capture webs and hunt at night tending to hide under stones or in dry plant debris or leaf litter during the day. They make silken molting chambers and their egg sac is covered with fluffy silk (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997).

No known threats.

Given the relatively high number of records (Kaston 1948, Hansen 1992, Thaler and Steiner 1993, Lazarov et al. 2001, Van Keer et al. 2006, Reiss et al. 2009, Cardoso and Morano 2010, Van Keer et al. 2010, Iglesias et al. 2013, Henrard et al. 2014) it was possible to perform species distribution modeling (see methods for details).

This species has been recorded in central and western Europe, and has also been introduced to the USA (Kaston 1948, Hansen 1992, Thaler and Steiner 1993, Lazarov et al. 2001, Van Keer et al. 2006, Reiss et al. 2009, Cardoso and Morano 2010, Van Keer et al. 2010, Iglesias et al. 2013, Henrard et al. 2014).

Any definite range change over time was not available in the records, but we assume it to be stable, being a widespread species.

Any definite range change over time was not available in the records, but we assume it to be stable, being a widespread species.

No population size estimates exist. This species is predicted to be common and widespread throughout western and central Europe.

This species has been recorded mostly from anthropogenic habitats; e.g. in the city centre, parks, houses and in cellars (Van Keer et al. 2006, Hansen 1992, Kaston 1948). One record has been made from a cave (Reiss et al. 2009).

There are several records for this species and most of them occur within areas of human disturbance. This species seems to be adaptive to strongly modified habitats and are not experiencing any decline.

Oonopids are nocturnal active hunters that live free on the ground. These spiders have been recorded from different kinds of habitats, from dry dunelands to forested areas, human constructions, webs of other spiders to termite nests. Since Oonopids hunt at night they tend to hide under stones, in dry plant debris or in leaf litter during the day. The egg-sac is covered with fluffy silk (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997).

No known threats.

This is a widespread species with no known habitat restrictions and occurs within several protected areas (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2017).

Unknown EOO or AOO.

Known only from three records from the type locality near Manaus in Brazil (Brignoli 1978), last recorded in 1983 (Höfer and Brescovit 1996).

No population size estimates exist.

All specimens were recorded in a non-inundated rainforest (Höfer and Brescovit 1996).

Individuals of this species seem to live deep in the soil or root mat (Höfer and Brescovit 1996). Oonopids are nocturnal active hunters that live free on the ground. These spiders have been recorded from different kinds of habitats from dry dunelands to forested areas, human constructions, other spiders' webs and termite nests. Since Oonopids hunt at night they tend to hide under stones or in dry plant debris or leaf litter during the day. The egg-sac is covered with fluffy silk (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997).

No known threats.

The type locality is not inside protected areas but the species should occur in the wide range of protected areas next to the known site (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2017).

Given the relatively high number of records (Forster 1956, Forster and Platnick 1985), it was possible to perform species distribution modelling (see methods for details).

This species is known from New Zealand only, last recorded in 1984 (Forster 1956, Forster and Platnick 1985).

No population size estimates exist.

This species has been recorded from forests, in moss and leafmould (Forster 1956, Forster and Platnick 1985). In addition, the range of this species seems to be mostly within mountain and fjord regions.

Orsolobids are free-living spiders wandering on the ground in low vegetation and among moss and in humus or leaf litter (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997).

No known threats.

There is a wide protected area, namely Te Wahipounamu world heritage site in southwest New Zealand, reaching across the range of this species (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2017).

Unknown EOO or AOO.

This species is known only from the type locality close to Brisbane, in Queensland, Australia, recorded in 1975 (Forster and Platnick 1985).

No population size estimates exist.

All specimens were found in litter of rainforest (Forster and Platnick 1985).

Orsolobids are free-living spiders wandering on the ground in low vegetation and among moss and in humus or leaf litter (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997).

No known threats.

Unknown EOO or AOO.

This species is known only from the type locality near Tianlin, Guangxi, China, recorded in 2002 (Zhang et al. 2005).

No population size estimates exist.

The type locality is within the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion (Olson et al. 2001). Species of the same genus have been observed from tree barks, twigs or shrubs (Zhang et al. 2005).

Spiders of the family Oxyopidae are commonly known as lynx spiders for their catlike hunting tactics. Oxyopids have tapered abdomens and characteristic hexagonal eye arrangements with small anterior median eyes. They are either nocturnal or diurnal, have good vision and are agile hunters living mainly on plants where they jump from leaf to leaf catching their prey with spiny legs. These spiders feed mainly on moths and have also been observed feeding on pests in agroecosystems. Female oxyopids guard their egg-sacs which they often attach to a leaf (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997). Hamataliwa species are commonly found on the bark of trees and twigs or on woody shrubs (Zhang et al. 2005).

No known threats.

Most records from unspecified localities. (Simon 1893b, Li 2002, Norma-Rashid and Li 2009).

This species is known from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, however with unspecified localities (Simon 1893b, Li 2002, Norma-Rashid and Li 2009). The last record is from 1988 in Singapore (Li 2002), although the majority of records are without dates.

No population size estimates exist.

Palpimanids are ground-dwellers and can be found in a wide range of habitats (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997). However, the predicted range of this species is within tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest (Olson et al. 2001). It seems that large areas of their range, especially within the Sumatran and Malaysian regions, are now deforested and cultivated (World Resources Institute 2014).

Spiders of the family Palpimanidae can be found in a wide range of habitats (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997), but they mostly live on the ground and move slowly, holding their front lengs up while walking. In the daytime they are commonly found hiding under stones in their sac-like retreats and there has been observations of araneophagous behaviour. Apart from this, in general, the ecology and behaviour of this family is largely unknown.

Between the years 2001-2015 there has been a loss of 4,085,762 ha in the forest area of Singapore and Sumatra (World Resources Institute 2014). Since this species is a ground-dweller, and the family it represents can be found in various habitats from arid regions to densely forested areas, it remains unknown whether deforestation really affects this species.

Given the relatively high number of records (Schick 1965, Dondale and Redner 1968) it was possible to perform species distribution modelling (see methods for details).

This species potential historical range spans the west coast of the USA and Mexico (Schick 1965, Dondale and Redner 1968). However, we should note that all records are over 40 years old.

No population size estimates exist.

All known specimens have been found in coastal sage and oak habitats, yellow pine forests, and from grass in oak forests (Dondale and Redner 1968).

This species has been observed in different habitat types. yet the last observations are old.

Philodromids are agile and free-living, quickly moving hunters that are usually caught on plants or on the soil surface. They can easily hide into rock cracks and crevices due to their flat bodies. Philodromus species have been observed to capture their prey by "lying in ambush with legs extended" (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997). Mature individuals of this particular species were collected from May through July, mainly in June. Immatures were found from January through March and they molted to maturity in the laboratory from February through April. No diapause was observed (Schick 1965).

No known threats.

At least part of the species range is inside protected areas, for example Ventana and San Rafael wilderness areas in California (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2017).

Unknown EOO or AOO.

This species is known only from the type locality in Nghệ An, Viet Nam, recorded prior to 1909 (Simon 1909).

No population size estimates exist.

The type locality of this species is within the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest ecoregion (Olson et al. 2001). Otherwise habitat preference of this particular species remains unknown.

Philodromids are agile and free-living, quickly moving hunters that are usually caught on plants or on the soil surface. They can easily hide into rock cracks and crevices due to their flat bodies (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997).

No known threats.

This species may occur in a wide conservation area, Western Nghệ, an UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve, near its type locality (World Resources Institute 2014).

Unknown EOO or AOO.

This species is known only from two localities in eastern China (Xu and Wang 1984, Huber 2005b).

No population size estimates exist.

The species known localities are located in the border of tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and temperate broadleaf and mixed forests (Olson et al. 2001). The precise habitat type is unknown.

Pholcids build a tangled space web and they do not have an eggsac but the females carry the clump of eggs in their chelicerae instead. When disturbed these spiders vibrate their web rapidly (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997). Most Belisana species have been collected in primary tropical forests, from the leaf litter or under the leaves (Huber 2005b), but are also known to occur in agricultural regions (Song 1987).

No known threats.

Given the relatively high number of records (Huber 2000, Huber 2005a, GBIF.org 31th July 2017a) it was possible to perform species distribution modelling (see methods for details).

This species is relatively well-known (collected multiple times between 1988 and 1991, see GBIF.org 31th July 2017a, Huber 2000, Huber 2005a) in the Amazonas and is predicted to be widespread throughout the northern parts of Brazil and to be present also in Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and near the Brazilian border in Venezuela and Peru.

Given the forest loss within the Amazon region (World Resources Institute 2014), and this being a species dependent on forests, we expect the EOO to be declining.

Given the forest loss within the Amazon region (World Resources Institute 2014), and this being a species dependent on forests, we expect the AOO to be declining.

Given the forest loss within the Amazon region (World Resources Institute 2014), and this being a species dependent on forests, we expect the population size to be declining.

No population size estimates exist. This species seems to be widespread. However, the forest loss is causing decline in the AOO (World Resources Institute 2014) which may cause decline in the population as well.

Given the forest loss within the Amazon region (World Resources Institute 2014), and this being a species dependent on forests, we expect the number of subpopulations to be declining.

Known the Amazonian tropical forest (Huber 2000).

The forest loss inside the estimated range has been over 7,000,000 ha between 2001 and 2015 (World Resources Institute 2014).

Pholcids build a tangled space web and they do not have an eggsac but the females carry the clump of eggs in their chelicerae instead. When disturbed these spiders vibrate their web rapidly (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997). Otherwise, the ecology of this particular species is unknown.

The forest loss inside the estimated range has been over 7,000,000 ha between 2001 and 2015 (World Resources Institute 2014).

There are several protected areas within the estimated range of this species (World Resources Institute 2014). Nevertheless, site management and habitat & natural process restoration should be a priority across its range.

Given the relatively high number of records (Huber et al. 2010) it was possible to perform species distribution modelling (see methods for details).

This species is known from several localities in the Dominican Republic (Huber et al. 2010) and the distribution model predicts it to occur throughout the eastern half of the country.

Assumed to be stable given the ability to occupy several habitat types.

Assumed to be stable given the ability to occupy several habitat types.

No known threats to the species.

Assumed to be stable given the ability to occupy several habitat types.

No population size estimates exist, yet it is assumed to be stable given the ability to occupy several habitat types.

Assumed to be stable given the ability to occupy several habitat types.

Recorded from various habitat types such as tropical deciduous and mixed forest, degraded forest, forests near rivers and also from caves. Usually found close to the ground, for example under dead leaves or logs and in low vegetation (Huber et al. 2010). Therefore, forest loss may not cause plausible effects to the survival of this species, although we do not know for certainty.

This species seems to adapt to various habitat types and therefore is not experiencing any decline.

Pholcids build a tangled space web and they do not have an eggsac but the females carry the clump of eggs in their chelicerae instead. When disturbed these spiders vibrate their web rapidly (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997). Otherwise ecology of this particular species is unknown.

No known threats.

There is at least one protected area within the predicted range of this species, namely Del Este National Park. (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2017)

Unknown EOO or AOO.

Known only from the type locality in Ji County, China, recorded in 1982 (Zhu et al. 1983).

No population size estimates exist.

The single known specimen was found under a stone near a river (Zhu et al. 1983). The type locality seems to be covered with farmlands and human constructions. The type locality belongs to the ecoregion of tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests (Olson et al. 2001).

Pholcids build a tangled space web and they do not have an eggsac but the females carry the clump of eggs in their chelicerae instead. When disturbed these spiders vibrate their web rapidly (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997). Otherwise, the ecology of this particular species is unknown.

No known threats.

Given the relatively high number of records (Lawrence 1967, Huber 2012) it was possible to perform species distribution modelling (see methods for details).

This species is widespread in South and Southeast Africa, from southern Mozambique to Cape Town (Lawrence 1967, Huber 2012). It has also been found in Australia (Perth, Western Australia and Sydney, New South Wales) as an invasive species (Huber 2001). The species distribution model predicts the existence of suitable habitat also in Lesotho and Swaziland.

Any definite range change over time was not available in the records, but we assume it to be stable, being a widespread and even invasive species.

Any definite range change over time was not available in the records, but we assume it to be stable, being a widespread and even invasive species.

No known threats to the species.

This species is predicted to be common and widespread throughout the eastern parts of South Africa and it is notable that it has been reported to be invasive in Australia.

No population size estimates exist. This species is predicted to be common and widespread throughout the eastern parts of South Africa and it is notable that it has been reported to be invasive in Australia.

Smeringopus natalensis is present in a variety of habitats, including highveld, coastal and sand forests, grassveld savanna, dry riverbeds, wastelands and human constructions (Huber 2012).

Smeringopus natalensis is present in a variety of habitats, including highveld, coastal and sand forests, grassveld savanna, dry riverbeds, wastelands and human constructions (Huber 2012).

Pholcid spiders build a tangled space web. These spiders do not have an eggsac but the females carry the clump of eggs in their chelicerae. When disturbed the pholcid spiders vibrate their web rapidly. A relative species from Africa, S. elongatus, has been reported to prey mostly on ants and building a space web. S. pallidus, on the other hand, has been reported from mammal burrows building a criss-cross web between the webs of Olorunia ocellata and Euprosthenops proximus (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997). Otherwise, ecology of this particular species remains unknown.

No known threats.

Several protected areas exist within the species range. No conservation actions seem to be necessary since the species is widespread and adaptable, often even invasive (Huber 2001).

Unknown EOO or AOO.

This species was first collected in Mt. Choungui, Mayotte in 1998 (which is a French overseas territory), and described in 2003 (Huber 2003). The fact that it has not been recorded earlier is likely to be an artifact of undersampling, rather than a reflection of the species rarity, as there were no previous arachnological studies in the region. Mayote is the oldest and smallest island (377km²) in the Comoros archipelago and is probable, although not certain, that the species is indeed endemic to that island, as there are many other taxa with similar ranges.

No population size estimates exist.

Found on the ground of tropical forest (Huber 2003). As the species was collected by pitfall trapping, it is possible that it inhabits the leaf litter.

Pholcids build a tangled space web and they do not have an eggsac but the females carry the clump of eggs in their chelicerae instead. When disturbed these spiders vibrate their web rapidly (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997).

No known threats.

Several forest reserves cover part of the island and the water area around it is protected (Mayotte Marine Nature Park, UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2017) which indicates the island itself is subject to some degree of protection. Recent assessments of other leaf litter invertebrates of Mayote showed that the local fauna is not doing as poorly as in other oceanic islands, which indicates that this species habitat, although likely to be small, is fairly well preserved.

Given the relatively high number of records (Thorell 1899, Blandin 1978, Sierwald 1997) it was possible to perform species distribution modelling (see methods for details).

Recorded from Gabon, Cameroon, Togo, Ivory Coast and Democratic Republic of the Congo (Thorell 1899, Blandin 1978, Sierwald 1997), the species distribution model predicts it has potentially suitable habitat throughout Central and Western Africa, across most of the tropical forest region.

Unknown.

No population estimates exist.

The predicted range of this species is covered with tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests but also with tropical and subtropical grasslands, shrublands and savannas (Olson et al. 2001). Charminus species are commonly found in grass fields and open forests (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997).

Spiders of the family Pisauridae are called nursery-web spiders and most of the species hunt in the vegetation (Sierwald 1997). Spiders of this genus have been observed to live beneath the leaves where they tend to build a tube-like retreat in a curve of the leaf. Thin sheets of silk are attached to the surronding vegetation which are used to detect vibration from threats. Only juveniles occupy the retreats (Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997).

No known threats.

Unknown EOO or AOO.

This species has only been recorded from the Philippines in 1991 (Barrion Alberto 1995).

No population size estimates exist.

This species was found in a small pond (Barrion Alberto 1995). Species of the same genus are often found in fresh waterbodies, for example in lakes and ponds (Carico 1973).

Species of the genus Dolomedes often live near water, feeding on aquatic insects. Despite this, catches of small fish, tadpoles, freshwater shrimps and small toads have been reported (Carico 1973, Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997). These spiders have the ability to run on the surface of the water by "skating" to escape from their predators and to hunt. The surface tension of the water traps their prey and allows Dolomedes species to hunt whilst taking advantage of their own hydrophobical body features. These spiders also have the ability to dive underwater, either to escape or to catch prey (Carico 1973). Females carry the egg-cocoon in their mandibles. They make a large nursery web for the juveniles, where they live for a while, after being hatched (Emerton 1902). The nursery web is commonly attached high in weeds (Carico 1973).

No known threats.

Given the relatively high number of records (Hentz 1844, Montgomery 1902, Emerton 1909, Comstock 1912, Bishop 1924, Kaston 1948, Dondale and Redner 1990, Guarisco 1999, Knysh and Giberson 2012, GBIF.org 31th July 2017c) it was possible to perform species distribution modelling (see methods for details).

This species is widespread in the eastern USA and southeastern Canada (Hentz 1844, Montgomery 1902, Emerton 1909, Comstock 1912, Bishop 1924, Kaston 1948, Dondale and Redner 1990, Guarisco 1999, Knysh and Giberson 2012, GBIF.org 31th July 2017c).

Being a widespread species we assume the trend to be stable.

Being a widespread species we assume the trend to be stable.

No known threats to the species.

Inferred from the AOO and habitat trends.

No population size estimates exist. However, given the high number of records, most of them from the 2010s, this species seems to be relatively widespread.

Commonly found in swamp environments and ponds in southern United States coastal plain and lakes and ponds in the glaciated part of the range and easily collected from vertical tree trunks emerging from slow-moving streams and ponds. In the case of slow-moving streams Dolomedes species are found for example on cypress trees and vegetation rising from the water. D. tenebrosus, in particular, stays near the waterline (Carico 1973). Contrary to other species of the genus, this species is often found in woods under logs and more often in association with houses such as sheds, basements and kitchens (Guarisco 1999, Carico 1973).

Able to live in various habitat types, from swamps to urban areas.

D. tenebrosus is one of the largest spiders in the USA (Emerton 1902). Species of the genus Dolomedes often live near water feeding on aquatic insects and often catching small fish, tadpoles, freshwater shrimps and small toads (Carico 1973, Dippenaar-Schoeman and Jocqué 1997). These spiders have the ability to run on the surface of water by "skating" to escape from the predators and to hunt. Dolomedes species use the water surface as the web to catch their prey as the insects get trapped by the surface tension but the spiders themselves have hydrophobical features in their body. These spiders also have the ability to dive underwater, either to escape or to catch the prey (Carico 1973). Females carry the egg-cocoon in their mandibles. They make a large nursery web for the juveniles to live for a while after being hatched (Emerton 1902). The nursery web is commonly attached high in weeds. Adult D. tenebrosus females occur throughout the year although suggested to be inactive during the cold months (Kaston 1948). Adult males are commonly found in May, although they can be present also earlier in the south and later in the north. Immatures can be found throughout the year (Carico 1973).

No known threats.

There are several protected areas within the predicted range of this species (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2017).

Unknown EOO or AOO.

This species was recorded from Vietnam and from the Celebs (Sulawesi) in Indonesia prior to 1877 (Thorell 1877).

No population size estimates exist.