Oreophantes recurvatus
This record describes Oreophantes recurvatus (species). Recorded family: Linyphiidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Not meant to be diagnostic by itself, but this species has unusually long, slender legs; femur I is nearly twice as long as the length of the cephalothorax, and tibia I is longer than femur I. The male's pedipalp or female's epigynum should be used for accurate identification, however. Voucher female habitus, epigynum:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Linyphiidae (Sheetweb and Dwarf Spiders)
- Subfamily
- Linyphiinae
- Genus
- Oreophantes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Pickavance & Dondale 2005 ( 5 ) recorded the species from mixed coniferous woods in Newfoundland; Breuss 2009 ( 6 ) found it at the entrance to Corner Brook Cave in Newfoundland, but throughout Bonnechere Caves in Ontario. Various other records from caves in Ontario exist, as well.
Geographic Range
Northern North America: AB, BC, ME, NY, ON, QC, SK, VT ( 3 ) ( 4 )
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Oreophantes recurvatus. 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 Oreophantes recurvatus (3)
Photo credits: Contributed by Mandy Howe; Additional contributions by cheins
Frequently Asked Questions About Oreophantes recurvatus
What is Oreophantes recurvatus?
Oreophantes recurvatus is a species in the family Linyphiidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Oreophantes recurvatus?
Small spiders; body length (excluding legs) of adults ranges from 2.7 - 3.5 millimeters.
How do you identify Oreophantes recurvatus?
Not meant to be diagnostic by itself, but this species has unusually long, slender legs; femur I is nearly twice as long as the length of the cephalothorax, and tibia I is longer than femur I. The male's pedipalp or female's epigynum should be used for accurate identification, however. Voucher female habitus, epigynum:
Where is Oreophantes recurvatus found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Pickavance & Dondale 2005 ( 5 ) recorded the species from mixed coniferous woods in Newfoundland; Breuss 2009 ( 6 ) found it at the entrance to Corner Brook Cave in Newfoundland, but throughout Bonnechere Caves in Ontario. Various other records from caves in Ontario exist, as well. |
| Range | Northern North America: AB, BC, ME, NY, ON, QC, SK, VT ( 3 ) ( 4 ) |