Phanias watonus
This record describes Phanias watonus (species). Recorded family: Salticidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Male is similar in appearance to Phanias harfordi , but without the solid covering of white scales on the face. Palp Epigynum
Wikipedia reference for Phanias watonus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phanias watonus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Salticidae (Jumping Spiders)
- Genus
- Phanias
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
British Columbia south to California
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Phanias watonus. 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 Phanias watonus (2)
Photo credits: Kaldari, no known copyright restrictions (public domain) | Contributed by dragonfly12; Additional contributions by cheins , kschnei , pfeiffer
Frequently Asked Questions About Phanias watonus
What is Phanias watonus?
Phanias watonus is a species in the family Salticidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Phanias watonus?
Male is similar in appearance to Phanias harfordi , but without the solid covering of white scales on the face. Palp Epigynum
Where is Phanias watonus found?
Range: British Columbia south to California