Herpyllus cockerelli
This record describes Herpyllus cockerelli (species). Recorded family: Gnaphosidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Palp Syntypes were collected from Mesilla Park, Dona Ana Co., New Mexico.
Identification notes
Palp
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Gnaphosidae (Ground Spiders)
- Genus
- Herpyllus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Colorado and Utah south to Arizona, New Mexico and Texas as well as Mexico
Seasonal Activity
Adults can be found year-round.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Herpyllus cockerelli (Banks, 1901)
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Herpyllus cockerelli. 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 Herpyllus cockerelli (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Maury J. Heiman; Additional contributions by cheins
Frequently Asked Questions About Herpyllus cockerelli
What is Herpyllus cockerelli?
Herpyllus cockerelli is a species in the family Gnaphosidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Herpyllus cockerelli?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Males | ~6.8 mm |
| Females | ~8.2 mm |
How do you identify Herpyllus cockerelli?
Palp
Where is Herpyllus cockerelli found?
Range: Colorado and Utah south to Arizona, New Mexico and Texas as well as Mexico
When is Herpyllus cockerelli active?
Herpyllus cockerelli: seasonal activity - Adults can be found year-round..