Mackenzie's Thin-legged Wolf Spider
Pardosa mackenziana
This record describes Pardosa mackenziana (species). Recorded family: Lycosidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Female epigyne: Male left palp, ventral view left palp, retrolateral view left palp, distoventral view Info from Rod Crawford regarding Pardosa of Washington: Pardosa mackenziana [& P. dorsalis which is likely a synonym] females can't be distinguished from the equally common P. dorsuncata without a little bit of dissection. The posterior edge of the septum needs to be lifted away from the epigastric furrow to expose the posterior duct structure; nothing needs to be removed or cleared.
Wikipedia reference for Pardosa mackenziana: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pardosa mackenziana.
Classification
Habitat and Range
Habitat
A variety of habitats, though more associated with evergreen forests in the US.
Geographic Range
Widespread in montane and boreal parts of the contiguous US: the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, North Woods, and New England, in most of Canada, and into Alaska. States, Provinces and Territories: US: CA, OR, WA, AK, ID, MT, WY, UT, CO, NM, NE, SD, MN, WI, MI, NH, ME, MA, CT, RI CA: BC, YT, NT, AB, SK, MB, ON, PQ, NB, NS, NL (both Newfoundland and Labrador)
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: (Keyserling, 1877) Probably named after the Mackenzie River , which is mentioned in the original description.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Pardosa mackenziana. 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 Mackenzie's Thin-legged Wolf Spider (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Chuck Entz; Additional contributions by jsloan , Mandy Howe
Frequently Asked Questions About Mackenzie's Thin-legged Wolf Spider
What is Mackenzie's Thin-legged Wolf Spider?
Mackenzie's Thin-legged Wolf Spider (Pardosa mackenziana) is a species in the family Lycosidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Mackenzie's Thin-legged Wolf Spider?
Female 7.4-8.6 mm Male 6.0-7.1 (per Vogel)
How do you identify Mackenzie's Thin-legged Wolf Spider?
Female epigyne: Male left palp, ventral view left palp, retrolateral view left palp, distoventral view
Where is Mackenzie's Thin-legged Wolf Spider found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | A variety of habitats, though more associated with evergreen forests in the US. |
| Range | Widespread in montane and boreal parts of the contiguous US: the Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, North Woods, and New England, in most of Canada, and into Alaska. States, Provinces and Territories: US: CA, OR, WA, AK, ID, MT, WY, UT, CO, NM, NE, SD, MN, WI, MI, NH, ME, MA, CT, RI CA: BC, YT, NT, AB, SK, MB, ON, PQ, NB, NS, NL (both Newfoundland and Labrador) |