Dark Alpine Orbweaver

Aculepeira carbonarioides

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ILARAG3020
Common Name: 
Dark Alpine Orbweaver
Scientific Name: 
Aculepeira carbonarioides
Synonyms: 
Araneus hyperboreus
Araneus vegae
Aranea charitonovi
Epeira carbonaria
Epeira carbonarioides
Naming References: 
W034
B161
Google image search
Taxonomy
Group: 
Arachnid (Spider)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Arthropoda
Class: 
Arachnida
Order: 
Araneae
Family: 
Araneidae
Habitat
Individuals of this species build their webs in the spaces among boulders at or near tree line. The web 'forms an angle with the vertical' and the spider is found at the hub rather than in a retreat (Levi 1977b in Dondale et al. 2003).
References: 
R164
R197
Distribution

Ecozones

Northern Arctic, Southern Arctic, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield
References: 
W034
B161

Distribution

Alaska to Quebec, south to Utah and Colorado; Scandinavia and Russia. In the NWT, the species appears fairly widespread, with records from the Yellowknife area, down the Mackenzie River in the Dehcho and Sahtu regions, northeast of Great Bear Lake, and on Victoria Island (Dondale et al. 2003).
References: 
HSS001

Number of Occurrences

Six to eight records in the NWT (unclear from source material whether two occur in Nunavut now), including one near the North Arm of Great Slave Lake, three along the Mackenzie River between Wrigley and Norman Wells, either one or three (two may be in what is now Nunavut) towards the northeast of Great Bear Lake, and one on Victoria Island near Ulukhaktok (Dondale et al. 2003). Reference: Dondale, C.D., Redner, J.H., Paquin, P., & Levi, H.W. 2003. The Insects and Arachnids of Canada. Part 23. The Orb-weaving Spiders of Canada and Alaska (Araneae: Uloboridae, Tetragnathidae, Araneidae, Theridosomatidae). NRC Research Press, Ottawa, ON. 371 pp.
References: 
B161
R197
HSS001
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
Regional experts consider this species to be too poorly known in the NWT to be ranked accurately.
S Rank: 
S4S5
Decision Process Description: 
Draft rank by S. Cannings, M. Anions, P. Paquin, D. Buckle, and R. Bennett in 2010. Rank reviewed in 2014 by R. Bennett; suggested changing from Secure to Undetermined; local review left rank at Secure given wide range of species in the NWT. Rank reviewed in 2023 by R. Bennett; no change.
Last Updated: 
July 31, 2024
Status Designations

Canada – Assessment by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada

COSEWIC Status: 
-

References

Ecozones

  • Shorthouse, D. Editor (2007) The Nearctic Spider Database. WWW Electronic Publication http://canadianarachnology.dyndns.org/data/canada_spiders/ - W034 Return
  • Dondale, C.D., J.H. Redner, P. Paquin, and H.W. Levi (2003) The Insects and Arachnids of Canada, Part 23, The Orb-Weaving Spiders of Canada and Alaska, Araneae: Uloboridae, Tetragnathidae, Araneidae, Theridiosomatidae. NRS Research Press ENR Library QL 434.52.A1I5 pt.23 - B161 Return

Habitat

  • Dondale, C.D., Redner, J.H. and Marusik, Y.M. (1997) Spiders (Araneae) of the Yukon in Danks, H.V. and J.A. Downes. 1997. Insects of the Yukon.. Biological Survey of Cnada (Terrestrial Arthropods) pp.73-113 http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/pdf/dondale.pdf - R164 Return
  • Bennett, Robb (2010) DRAFT LIST OF SPIDERS IN CANADA Phylum Chelicerata; Class Arachnida; Order Araneae. - R197 Return

Naming

  • Shorthouse, D. Editor (2007) The Nearctic Spider Database. WWW Electronic Publication http://canadianarachnology.dyndns.org/data/canada_spiders/ - W034 Return
  • Dondale, C.D., J.H. Redner, P. Paquin, and H.W. Levi (2003) The Insects and Arachnids of Canada, Part 23, The Orb-Weaving Spiders of Canada and Alaska, Araneae: Uloboridae, Tetragnathidae, Araneidae, Theridiosomatidae. NRS Research Press ENR Library QL 434.52.A1I5 pt.23 - B161 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Dondale, C.D., J.H. Redner, P. Paquin, and H.W. Levi (2003) The Insects and Arachnids of Canada, Part 23, The Orb-Weaving Spiders of Canada and Alaska, Araneae: Uloboridae, Tetragnathidae, Araneidae, Theridiosomatidae. NRS Research Press ENR Library QL 434.52.A1I5 pt.23 - B161 Return
  • Bennett, Robb (2010) DRAFT LIST OF SPIDERS IN CANADA Phylum Chelicerata; Class Arachnida; Order Araneae. - R197 Return
  • Bennett R. in Hebert, R. (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS Spiders with ranks poposed by Robb Bennett (09/05/2014). e copy - HSS001 Return

Range Extent

  • Bennett R. in Hebert, R. (2014) A set of 2 e-mails GS Spiders with ranks poposed by Robb Bennett (09/05/2014). e copy - HSS001 Return