Agyneta sheffordiana
This record describes Agyneta sheffordiana (species). Recorded family: Linyphiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Carapace | Carapace light khaki-brown, shiny, finely reticulate; suffused with dark gray along margin, radiating lines; trident mark present. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen uniformly light gray. |
| Legs | Legs light yellow, prolateral and retrolateral surface of palpal femora and leg femora I–III suffused with dark gray Palp Epigynum |
Wikipedia reference for Agyneta sheffordiana: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agyneta_sheffordiana.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Linyphiidae (Sheetweb and Dwarf Spiders)
- Subfamily
- Linyphiinae
- Genus
- Agyneta
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Prairie, aspen woods, sphagnum bog, deciduous forest, oak-maple forest
Geographic Range
Northeastern Canada; collection localities include Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Agyneta sheffordiana. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
As of 2023, 51,673 spider species in 136 families have been recorded, though an estimated 150,000 species exist. Spiders rank 7th in total species diversity among all organism orders. Only 0.5% of spider species pose any risk to human health.
Ecological role of the group
Spider venom contains complex peptides with diverse pharmacological activities, making them valuable for drug development research. Spiders produce up to 7 types of silk from specialized glands. Spider silk genes have been inserted into mammals and plants for biotech applications.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The global spider community kills an estimated 400-800 million tons of prey annually (2017 study). Spiders provide billions of dollars in natural pest control for agriculture. Spider silk is 5× stronger than steel of the same diameter, driving a biomaterials research industry.
Recorded sources for this group: World Spider Catalog, PNAS, Nature, ScienceDirect. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Agyneta sheffordiana (2)
Photo credits: (c) pmbrousseau, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by pmbrousseau | Contributed by Mandy Howe; Additional contributions by cheins
Frequently Asked Questions About Agyneta sheffordiana
What is Agyneta sheffordiana?
Agyneta sheffordiana is a species in the family Linyphiidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Agyneta sheffordiana?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Male | 1.35mm |
| Female | 1.64mm |
How do you identify Agyneta sheffordiana?
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Carapace | Carapace light khaki-brown, shiny, finely reticulate; suffused with dark gray along margin, radiating lines; trident mark present. |
| Abdomen | Abdomen uniformly light gray. |
| Legs | Legs light yellow, prolateral and retrolateral surface of palpal femora and leg femora I–III suffused with dark gray Palp Epigynum |
Where is Agyneta sheffordiana found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Prairie, aspen woods, sphagnum bog, deciduous forest, oak-maple forest |
| Range | Northeastern Canada; collection localities include Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec. |