Anyphaena celer
This record describes Anyphaena celer (species). Recorded family: Anyphaenidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Palp (ventral/lateral) Epigynum (ventral/ventral dissected/dorsal dissected) Anyphaena maculata (as of 10/5/25 not listed in BugGuide) is very similar to Anyphaena celer , and shares much of the same range, though is more southern in distribution--see map 1 of Platnick . Quoting Platnick, p. 216 (direct link https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4279097 ): Anyphaena celer is most closely related to A. maculata . Males of both species have dorsal and ventral RTA* prongs roughly equal in length, but A. celer males may be distinguished by the translucent ridge on their dorsal prong (Fig. 18). Females may be separated by the straight epigynal sidepieces and widely oval epigynal hood of A. celer . * RTA = retrolateral tibial apophysis.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Anyphaenidae (Ghost Spiders)
- Genus
- Anyphaena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
This species is found from the eastern seaboard west to Minnesota and south to eastern Texas.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Anyphaena celer. 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 Anyphaena celer (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by cotinis , cheins
Frequently Asked Questions About Anyphaena celer
What is Anyphaena celer?
Anyphaena celer is a species in the family Anyphaenidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Anyphaena celer?
Palp (ventral/lateral) Epigynum (ventral/ventral dissected/dorsal dissected)
Where is Anyphaena celer found?
Range: This species is found from the eastern seaboard west to Minnesota and south to eastern Texas.