Complete your profile
Full Name
Email
Password
What types of underwater spider might I find in Canada?
Today I was in the courtyard of the building where I work, and in the fountain sitting atop a stone was a dark spider about the size of a quarter (legs included). When spiders die, they tend to curl up into a ball, and so I assume it isn't dead, though I didn't see it move at all. I wasn't aware of any species of spider which lived underwater, except for the very large "sea spiders". Are underwater species of spider common?
3 Answers
Sea spiders are not true spiders they are Chelicerata. This is a sub-phylum that includes ticks, mites and pseudoscropions.
http://bugguide…
There are many spiders that "dive" underwater. The most notable are the fishing spiders.
http://bugguide…
There really aren't any species of spiders adapted to aquatic life. All spiders must breath free oxygen. Spiders don't have the proper anatomy for aquatic breathing, ie gills.
There is one family of spiders that live underwater but breath air capture within a silken net that traps air.
http://www.xs4a…
http://bugguide…
There are many spiders that "dive" underwater. The most notable are the fishing spiders.
http://bugguide…
There really aren't any species of spiders adapted to aquatic life. All spiders must breath free oxygen. Spiders don't have the proper anatomy for aquatic breathing, ie gills.
There is one family of spiders that live underwater but breath air capture within a silken net that traps air.
http://www.xs4a…
There is a group of spiders called the fishing spiders (Family Pisauridae) which can submerge for a time, and are able to walk on the water's surface. They don't actually live underwater, but travel the surface and hunt from vegetation or rocks on the edge.
Some Pisaurids, like Dolomedes triton and Dolomedes striatus, are common in some parts of Canada.
Dolomedes triton is very large, and is capable of capturing tadpoles and small fish. Dolomedes striatus is smaller, rarer (especially in western Canada), but has the habit of actually hanging out under the water's surface, coated in a silvery bubble (making it look like the Silver Surfer spider) that allows it to breathe.
There are also many other species of spider, such as many wolf spiders that are able to run on the surface of the water for a short distance without getting water logged and falling in. These spiders are incredibly common all across Canada - and could easily have fallen into the fountain, but survived a short time before drowning.
Some Pisaurids, like Dolomedes triton and Dolomedes striatus, are common in some parts of Canada.
Dolomedes triton is very large, and is capable of capturing tadpoles and small fish. Dolomedes striatus is smaller, rarer (especially in western Canada), but has the habit of actually hanging out under the water's surface, coated in a silvery bubble (making it look like the Silver Surfer spider) that allows it to breathe.
There are also many other species of spider, such as many wolf spiders that are able to run on the surface of the water for a short distance without getting water logged and falling in. These spiders are incredibly common all across Canada - and could easily have fallen into the fountain, but survived a short time before drowning.
Add Your Answer!
