Summary details for Serrated Tongue-spider (Centromerus serratus (O.P.-Cambridge, 1875))

Species Details

Species name: Centromerus serratus (O.P.-Cambridge, 1875)
Common name: Serrated Tongue-spider
Synonym: Centromerus serrata
Taxonomy: Animalia :: Araneae :: Linyphiidae
habitat: shaded woodland floor

Distribution

The species is confined to the south of England, mainly the counties of Dorset, Hampshire, Surrey and Essex. It is uncommon in Europe and has not been recorded from Ireland or Scandinavia.

Habitat and ecology

C. serratus occurs in litter and moss under pine, beech and oak, and in moss on chalk grassland and acid grassland. It is probably most abundant in deep beech litter. Both sexes are adult from November to March, females also in April.

Status

UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species. Area of occupancy limited. Showing a major decline.

Threats

The loss of old beech woods. This species has been found in litter in pine plantations, but under pine is more often in clumps of moss mixed with litter than in pure pine litter, and therefore is usually more frequent in semi-natural woodland.

Management and conservation

Maintain old beech woods with deep litter layer, and areas of old pine with associated moss and heather on heathland. Text based on Dawson, I.K., Harvey, P.R., Merrett, P. & Russell-Smith, A.R. (in prep.).

Stats

First recorded: 1900
Last recorded: 2025
Total records: 128
Total visits: 123

Conservation status

Centromerus serratus

Source	Reporting category	Designation	Date designated	Comments
A Review of the scarce and threatened spiders (Araneae) of Great Britain: Species Status No. 22 (Sep 2017)	Rare and scarce species	Nationally Rare. Includes Red Listed taxa	01/09/2017
A Review of the scarce and threatened spiders (Araneae) of Great Britain: Species Status No. 22 (Sep 2017)	Red listing based on 2001 IUCN guidelines	Endangered	01/09/2017	B2ab(ii) is justified because this species shows a major decline and is known from only five post-1993 locations. Under-recording is not considered a major factor because although adults are most frequently found in winter, they are also found in spring and early summer and their favoured habitats are also generally well surveyed. The species is threatened by the loss of old beech woods, deep litter and moss in semi-natural woodland and old grasslands. Threats: The loss of old beech woods. This species has been found in litter in pine plantations, but under pine is more often in clumps of moss mixed with litter than in pure pine litter, and therefore is usually more frequent in semi-natural woodland.
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 - Species of Principal Importance in England (section 41)	Biodiversity Lists - England	England NERC S.41	01/11/2008
UK list of Priority Habitats and Species	Biodiversity Action Plan UK list of priority species	Priority Species	28/08/2007	not on former UK BAP list

Photos and media

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Spatial distribution - hectad map

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Thresholds:

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Temporal distribution - records by year

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