AraneaeTheridiidae – Cobweb Spiders

Neopisinus cognatus

This record describes Neopisinus cognatus (species). Recorded family: Theridiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.

Identification and Appearance

Neopisinus cognatus - Neopisinus cognatus — Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck; Additional contributions by Mike Quinn

Prominent, spindle like setae on the dorsal tubercles. Type: Mexico, Tabasco, Teapa

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae (Spiders)
Family: Theridiidae (Cobweb Spiders)
Genus: Neopisinus

Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.

Habitat and Range

Geographic Range

Southwestern US to South America.

About Spiders: the wider group

Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Neopisinus cognatus. 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.

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