Putus dwarf round-headed spider
Oecobius putus
This record describes Oecobius putus (species). Recorded family: Oecobiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Oecobius putus is a species of spider in the family Oecobiidae. It is commonly known as the Putus round-headed spider.
Identification notes
AME much the largest .
Wikipedia reference for Oecobius putus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oecobius putus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Oecobiidae (Wall spiders)
- Genus
- Oecobius (Wall spiders)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Synanthropic.
Geographic Range
According to the World Spider Catalog (as of June 2019): "Egypt, Sudan to Iran, Azerbaijan, India. Introduced to USA, Mexico". In North America: "Southern California, southern Arizona, extreme western New Mexico, southwestern Texas, northern Sonora and Chihuahua and Baja California ".
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Oecobius putus. 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 Putus dwarf round-headed spider (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Ken Schneider
Frequently Asked Questions About Putus dwarf round-headed spider
What is Putus dwarf round-headed spider?
Putus dwarf round-headed spider (Oecobius putus) is a species in the family Oecobiidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Putus dwarf round-headed spider?
AME much the largest .
Where is Putus dwarf round-headed spider found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Synanthropic. |
| Range | According to the World Spider Catalog (as of June 2019): Egypt, Sudan to Iran, Azerbaijan, India. Introduced to USA, Mexico. In North America: Southern California, southern Arizona, extreme western New Mexico, southwestern Texas, northern Sonora and Chihuahua and Baja California . |