Svenska Spindlar
Encyclopedia
The book or was one of the major works of the Swedish arachnologist and entomologist Carl Alexander Clerck
and appeared in Stockholm in the year 1757. It was the first comprehensive book on the spiders of Sweden and one of the first regional monographs of a group of animals worldwide. The full title of the work was – , and included 162 pages of text (eight pages were unpaginated) and 6 colour plates. It was published in Swedish, with a Latin translation printed in a slightly smaller font below the Swedish text.
Clerck described in detail 66 species of Swedish spider species, and for the first time in a zoological work consistently applied binomial nomenclature
, which had been proposed by Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 work Species Plantarum
for botanical names, and which he presented in 1758 in the 10th edition of his work Systema Naturae
for more than 4,000 animal species.
, Clerck used a single genus name (Araneus
), to which was added a specific name which consisted of only one word. Each species was presented in the Swedish text with their Latin scientific names, followed by detailed information containing the exact dates when he had found the animals, and a detailed description of eyes, legs and body. The differences between the sexes were also described. Each species was illustrated in impressively accurate drawings printed on coloured copper plates which were bound at the end of the volume.
decided that Clerck's work should be available for zoological nomenclature, but the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
did not mention Clerck's work. Only after 1999 this was officially recognized in the Code. This means that in case of doubt the spelling of a spider name as from Clerck's 1757 work has priority over that proposed by Linnaeus in 1758 (an example is Araneus instead of Aranea), and that Clerck's spiders were the first animals in modern zoology to have obtained an available scientific name in the Linnean system.
in 1999.
In a complete binominal name with author and year, the year corresponds to the year of publication of the original source. Since 2000, the ICZN Code includes an exception of this very basic rule. From the beginning on the new provision in the Code has been misunderstood by many researchers who believed that by setting the date for Clerck's work to 1758 (overriding its true date 1757) and the date for Systema Naturae to the 1 January 1758, the priority was changed. In 2007, a case was even brought before the Commission
because the researchers were no longer sure whether the generic name should be Araneus
Clerck or Aranea Linnaeus. In their judgement the year 1758 for Clerck's Svenska Spindlar could be interpreted in a way that the Linnean work from 1 January 1758 should have priority. In 2009 the Commission saw itself forced to repeat once more, although this was already explicit in the Code's Article 3.1, that the name Araneus established by Clerck shall have priority and be used for the genus.
Chapter 2 (Araneidae, Tetragnathidae)
Chapter 3 (Theridiidae
, Nesticidae, Linyphiidae
)
Chapter 4 (Agelenidae, Clubionidae)
Chapter 5 (Lycosidae, Pisauridae)
Chapter 6 (Salticidae)
Chapter 7 (Thomisidae, Philodromidae, Sparassidae)
Carl Alexander Clerck
Carl Alexander Clerck was a Swedish entomologist and arachnologist.Clerck came from a family in the petty nobility and entered the University of Uppsala in 1726. Little is known of his studies; although a contemporary of Linnaeus, it is unknown whether he had any contact with him during his time...
and appeared in Stockholm in the year 1757. It was the first comprehensive book on the spiders of Sweden and one of the first regional monographs of a group of animals worldwide. The full title of the work was – , and included 162 pages of text (eight pages were unpaginated) and 6 colour plates. It was published in Swedish, with a Latin translation printed in a slightly smaller font below the Swedish text.
Clerck described in detail 66 species of Swedish spider species, and for the first time in a zoological work consistently applied binomial nomenclature
Binomial nomenclature
Binomial nomenclature is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, both of which use Latin grammatical forms, although they can be based on words from other languages...
, which had been proposed by Carl Linnaeus in his 1753 work Species Plantarum
Species Plantarum
Species Plantarum was first published in 1753, as a two-volume work by Carl Linnaeus. Its prime importance is perhaps that it is the primary starting point of plant nomenclature as it exists today. This means that the first names to be considered validly published in botany are those that appear...
for botanical names, and which he presented in 1758 in the 10th edition of his work Systema Naturae
Systema Naturae
The book was one of the major works of the Swedish botanist, zoologist and physician Carolus Linnaeus. The first edition was published in 1735...
for more than 4,000 animal species.
Presentation of the spiders
For the spiders, which included OpilionesOpiliones
Opiliones are an order of arachnids commonly known as harvestmen. , over 6,400 species of harvestmen have been discovered worldwide, although the real number of extant species may exceed 10,000. The order Opiliones can be divided into four suborders: Cyphophthalmi, Eupnoi, Dyspnoi and Laniatores...
, Clerck used a single genus name (Araneus
Araneus
Araneus is a genus of common orb-weaving spiders. It includes about 650 species, among which are the European garden spider and the barn spider.-Description:...
), to which was added a specific name which consisted of only one word. Each species was presented in the Swedish text with their Latin scientific names, followed by detailed information containing the exact dates when he had found the animals, and a detailed description of eyes, legs and body. The differences between the sexes were also described. Each species was illustrated in impressively accurate drawings printed on coloured copper plates which were bound at the end of the volume.
Impact and importance of the work
Because of the exceptionally thorough treatment of the spider species, the scientific names proposed by Clerck (which were adopted by Carl Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae in 1758 with only minor modifications) had traditionally been recognized by arachnologists as binominal and available. In 1959 the ICZN CommissionInternational Commission on Zoological Nomenclature
The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature is an organization dedicated to "achieving stability and sense in the scientific naming of animals". Founded in 1895, it currently comprises 28 members from 20 countries, mainly practicing zoological taxonomists...
decided that Clerck's work should be available for zoological nomenclature, but the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
International Code of Zoological Nomenclature
The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature is a widely accepted convention in zoology that rules the formal scientific naming of organisms treated as animals...
did not mention Clerck's work. Only after 1999 this was officially recognized in the Code. This means that in case of doubt the spelling of a spider name as from Clerck's 1757 work has priority over that proposed by Linnaeus in 1758 (an example is Araneus instead of Aranea), and that Clerck's spiders were the first animals in modern zoology to have obtained an available scientific name in the Linnean system.
Year 1757 or 1758?
In the late 1800s, Clerck's 1757 work was commonly accepted as the first application of binominal nomenclature to spiders. In 1959 the ICZN Commission ruled that the date 1758 should be used for Clerck's names, this date 1758 was repeated to apply to Clerck's names in the 4th edition of the International Code of Zoological NomenclatureInternational Code of Zoological Nomenclature
The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature is a widely accepted convention in zoology that rules the formal scientific naming of organisms treated as animals...
in 1999.
In a complete binominal name with author and year, the year corresponds to the year of publication of the original source. Since 2000, the ICZN Code includes an exception of this very basic rule. From the beginning on the new provision in the Code has been misunderstood by many researchers who believed that by setting the date for Clerck's work to 1758 (overriding its true date 1757) and the date for Systema Naturae to the 1 January 1758, the priority was changed. In 2007, a case was even brought before the Commission
International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature
The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature is an organization dedicated to "achieving stability and sense in the scientific naming of animals". Founded in 1895, it currently comprises 28 members from 20 countries, mainly practicing zoological taxonomists...
because the researchers were no longer sure whether the generic name should be Araneus
Araneus
Araneus is a genus of common orb-weaving spiders. It includes about 650 species, among which are the European garden spider and the barn spider.-Description:...
Clerck or Aranea Linnaeus. In their judgement the year 1758 for Clerck's Svenska Spindlar could be interpreted in a way that the Linnean work from 1 January 1758 should have priority. In 2009 the Commission saw itself forced to repeat once more, although this was already explicit in the Code's Article 3.1, that the name Araneus established by Clerck shall have priority and be used for the genus.
Species
Svenska Spindlar lists the following 66 species of spider; their current identities follow Platnick (2000–2010).Chapter 2 (Araneidae, Tetragnathidae)
- Araneus angulatusAraneus angulatusAraneus angulatus is a species of orb-weaving spider found in the Palaearctic. It resembles the European garden spider, Araneus diadematus, but has distinctive tubercles on its abdomen...
- Araneus diadematus
- Araneus quadratusAraneus quadratusThe four-spot orb-weaver is a common orb-weaver spider found in Europe and Asia. Females can reach 17 mm in length, especially when gravid, males approximately half that. They are quite variable in appearance, ranging from brown to bright orange or green, but they always have the...
- Araneus marmoreusAraneus marmoreusAraneus marmoreus, commonly called the marbled orb-weaver is a species of spider belonging to the family Araneidae. It has a Holarctic distribution....
- Araneus babel – Araneus marmoreusAraneus marmoreusAraneus marmoreus, commonly called the marbled orb-weaver is a species of spider belonging to the family Araneidae. It has a Holarctic distribution....
- Araneus umbraticus – Nuctenea umbraticaNuctenea umbraticaThe Walnut Orb-Weaver Spider is a spider of the Araneidae family.-Description:The walnut orb-weaver spider is very wide and flattened, with a leathery skin. Its color ranges from red brown and grey brown to black with a dark, yellowish to yellow-greenish leaf-like fleckled marking on its...
- Araneus pyramidatus – Araneus marmoreusAraneus marmoreusAraneus marmoreus, commonly called the marbled orb-weaver is a species of spider belonging to the family Araneidae. It has a Holarctic distribution....
- Araneus ocellatus – Larinioides patagiatus
- Araneus patagiatus – Larinioides patagiatus
- Araneus cornutus – Larinioides cornutusLarinioides cornutusLarinioides cornutus, the furrow spider, is an orb-weaver spider with Holarctic distribution.Females reach a body length of about 6–14 mm, males up to 5–9 mm. Leg spans range from 18–35 mm....
- Araneus sericatus – Larinioides sclopetariusLarinioides sclopetariusLarinioides sclopetarius, commonly called bridge spider or gray cross spider, is a relatively large orb-weaver spider with holarctic distribution that is often found on bridges, especially near light and over water. The species tends to live on steel objects and is seldom seen on vegetation.Females...
- Araneus sclopetarius – Larinioides sclopetariusLarinioides sclopetariusLarinioides sclopetarius, commonly called bridge spider or gray cross spider, is a relatively large orb-weaver spider with holarctic distribution that is often found on bridges, especially near light and over water. The species tends to live on steel objects and is seldom seen on vegetation.Females...
- Araneus cucurbitinus – Araniella cucurbitinaAraniella cucurbitinaThe Cucumber green spider is a spider of the Araneidae family. Females grow up to 8 mm, males only up to 5 mm. The spider is mainly found on forest clearings, where it weaves its orb-web between leaves and flowers. These webs are only about 10 cm in diameter.This spider does not use a hideout,...
- Araneus segmentatus – Metellina segmentataMetellina segmentataMetellina segmentata is a spider in the Tetragnathidae family with a Palaearctic distribution. It has also been introduced to Canada.Adults can be found from August to October. These spiders prefer open habitats and are amongst the most frequent orb-weaving spiders.The web has no threads at its...
- Araneus litera x notatus – Zygiella x-notatus
Chapter 3 (Theridiidae
Theridiidae
Theridiidae is a large family of spiders, also known as the tangle-web spiders, cobweb spiders and comb-footed spiders. The diverse family includes over 2200 species in over 100 genera) of three-dimensional space-web-builders found throughout the world...
, Nesticidae, Linyphiidae
Linyphiidae
Linyphiidae is a family of spiders, including more than 4,300 described species in 578 genera worldwide. This makes Linyphiidae the second largest family of spiders after the Salticidae. New species are still being discovered throughout the world, and the family is poorly known...
)
- Araneus castaneus – Steatoda castanea
- Araneus hamatus – Singa hamata
- Araneus lunatus – Parasteatoda lunata
- Araneus sisyphius – Phylloneta sispyhia
- Araneus formosus – Parasteatoda lunata
- Araneus ovatus – Enoplognatha ovataEnoplognatha ovataEnoplognatha ovata is a species of spider belonging to the family Theridiidae. It is native to Europe and has also been introduced to North America....
- Araneus redimitus – Enoplognatha ovataEnoplognatha ovataEnoplognatha ovata is a species of spider belonging to the family Theridiidae. It is native to Europe and has also been introduced to North America....
- Araneus lineatus – Enoplognatha ovataEnoplognatha ovataEnoplognatha ovata is a species of spider belonging to the family Theridiidae. It is native to Europe and has also been introduced to North America....
- Araneus cellulanus – Nesticus cellulanus
- Araneus bucculentus – Floronia bucculenta
- Araneus montanus – Neriene montana
- Araneus triangularis – Linyphia triangularis
Chapter 4 (Agelenidae, Clubionidae)
- Araneus domesticus – Tegenaria domestica, Malthonica ferruginea
- Araneus labyrinthicus – Agelena labyrinthicaAgelena labyrinthicaAgelena labyrinthica is a species of spider in the family Agelenidae, which contains 1146 species of funnel-web spiders. It is a widespread species in Europe, where there are 180 species, and in Central Europe, where there are 30 species currently known....
- Araneus pallidulus – Clubiona pallidula
Chapter 5 (Lycosidae, Pisauridae)
- Araneus fabrilis – Alopecosa fabrilis
- Araneus aculeatus – Alopecosa aculeata
- Araneus inquilinus – Alopecosa inquilina
- Araneus lignarius – Acantholycosa lignariaAcantholycosa lignariaAcantholycosa lignaria is a species of wolf spider. It is a widespread species of central and northern Europe.-References:*]]...
- Araneus monticola – Pardosa monticola
- Araneus pulverulentus – Alopecosa pulverulenta
- Araneus paludicola – Pardosa paludicola
- Araneus amentatus – Pardosa amentata
- Araneus trabalis – Alopecosa trabalis
- Araneus cuneatus – Alopecosa cuneata
- Araneus undatus – Dolomedes fimbriatus
- Araneus nivalis – Alopecosa inquilina
- Araneus piraticus – Pirata piraticus
- Araneus piscatorius – Pirata piscatorius
- Araneus fumigatus – Pardosa amentata
- Araneus pullatus – Pardosa pullata
- Araneus plantarius – Dolomedes plantarius
- Araneus fimbriatus – Dolomedes fimbriatus
- Araneus mirabilis – Pisaura mirabilisPisaura mirabilisThe nursery web spider Pisaura mirabilis is a spider species of the family Pisauridae.Males of this species offer food gifts to potential female mates. Some Pisaura mirabilis have also been observed to feign death, remaining still while holding the food gift in their mouths...
Chapter 6 (Salticidae)
- Araneus hastatus – Dendryphantes hastatus
- Araneus muscosus – Marpissa muscosaMarpissa muscosaMarpissa muscosa is a species of jumping spider.Females reach about 8–11 mm length, males only 6–8 mm. Both sexes are coloured grey to brown. The whole spider has a furry appearance and is flattened in shape....
- Araneus scenicus – Salticus scenicus
- Araneus striatus – [nomen dubiumNomen dubiumIn zoological nomenclature, a nomen dubium is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application...
] - Araneus terebratus – Sitticus terebratus
- Araneus litera v insignitus – Aelurillus v-insignitusAelurillus v-insignitusAelurillus v-insignitus is a species of jumping spider.-Appearance:The male has v-shaped rows of hairs on its head and a pronounced white median stripe on its abdomen. The female is mottled brown. The spider can reach a length of .-Name:...
- Araneus litera v notatus – Aelurillus v-insignitusAelurillus v-insignitusAelurillus v-insignitus is a species of jumping spider.-Appearance:The male has v-shaped rows of hairs on its head and a pronounced white median stripe on its abdomen. The female is mottled brown. The spider can reach a length of .-Name:...
- Araneus flammatus – [nomen dubiumNomen dubiumIn zoological nomenclature, a nomen dubium is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application...
] - Araneus falcatus – Evarcha falcataEvarcha falcataEvarcha falcata is a species of jumping spider with Palaearctic distribution.Females are about 7 mm long, males slightly shorter.Two subspecies are currently recognised:* Evarcha falcata nigrofusca...
- Araneus arcuatus – Evarcha arcuataEvarcha arcuataEvarcha arcuata is a species of jumping spider.-Description:Males reach a body length of about six, females up to eight millimetres. The female has a brown and whitish cephalothorax, and an opisthosoma with a distinct pattern of black diagonal spots, sometimes with a white outline.The male is in...
Chapter 7 (Thomisidae, Philodromidae, Sparassidae)
- Araneus vatius – Misumena vatiaMisumena vatiaMisumena vatia is a species of crab spider with holarctic distribution. In North America, where it is the largest and best-known flower spider, it is called the goldenrod crab spider or flower spider, because it is commonly found hunting in goldenrod sprays in the autumn.Young males in the early...
- Araneus margaritatus – Philodromus margaritatus
- Araneus aureolus – Philodromus aureolus
- Araneus formicinus – Thanatus formicinus
- Araneus cristatus – Xysticus cristatus
- Araneus roseus – Micrommata virescensMicrommata virescensThe green huntsman spider is a spider of the family Sparassidae. It does not build a web, and hunts insects in green vegetation, where it is well camouflaged....
- Araneus virescens – Micrommata virescensMicrommata virescensThe green huntsman spider is a spider of the family Sparassidae. It does not build a web, and hunts insects in green vegetation, where it is well camouflaged....