Coriarachne brunneipes
This record describes Coriarachne brunneipes (species). Recorded family: Thomisidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Easily distinguished from the other species by its relatively uniform color and flat carapace. Where Coriarachne and Bassaniana are both found they can be identified by the hairs on the carapace. See Rod Crawfords comment; This is either Coriarachne brunneipes or Bassaniana utahensis. The key feature is whether the large setae on the carapace have pointed ends (Coriarachne) or blunt ends (Bassaniana). So I looked at these carefully today, comparing only the males of spiders I think the ID is 100% correct. vs. Here is what I see... for differences. Coriarachne brunneipes males tend to have a 1. more elongated abdomen 2. less coloring on the legs 3. longer leg segments 4. carapace tends to have deeper 'grooves' 5. Perhaps the white marking on the abdomen tend to point more forward toward the edges. Now I think there is the possibility that many of the Coriarachne brunneipes photographed were just 'thinner' than the Bassaniana utahensis, but up to now those points seem to be consistent.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Thomisidae (Crab Spiders)
- Genus
- Coriarachne
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Western United States from Rocky Mountains to Pacific coast, in Canada from British Columbia eastward to northern Ontario.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Coriarachne brunneipes. 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 Coriarachne brunneipes (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott
Frequently Asked Questions About Coriarachne brunneipes
What is Coriarachne brunneipes?
Coriarachne brunneipes is a species in the family Thomisidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Coriarachne brunneipes?
Easily distinguished from the other species by its relatively uniform color and flat carapace. Where Coriarachne and Bassaniana are both found they can be identified by the hairs on the carapace. See Rod Crawfords comment; This is either Coriarachne brunneipes or Bassaniana utahensis. The key feature is whether the large setae on the carapace have pointed ends (Coriarachne) or blunt ends (Bassaniana). So I looked at these carefully today, comparing only the males of spiders I think the ID is 100% correct. vs. Here is what I see... for differences. Coriarachne brunneipes males tend to have a 1. more elongated abdomen 2. less coloring on the legs 3. longer leg segments 4. carapace tends to have deeper 'grooves' 5. Perhaps the white marking on the abdomen tend to point more forward toward the edges. Now I think there is the possibility that many of the Coriarachne brunneipes photographed were just 'thinner' than the Bassaniana utahensis, but up to now those points seem to be consistent.
Where is Coriarachne brunneipes found?
Range: Western United States from Rocky Mountains to Pacific coast, in Canada from British Columbia eastward to northern Ontario.