AraneaePhilodromidae – Running Crab Spiders

Philodromus pinyonelis

This record describes Philodromus pinyonelis (species). Recorded family: Philodromidae. Recorded order: Araneae.

Identification and Appearance

Philodromus pinyonelis - Philodromus pinyonelis
Contributed by Ken Schneider; Additional contributions by cheins

Identification notes

Palp: Epigynum:

Classification

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Arachnida
Order
Araneae (Spiders)
Family
Philodromidae (Running Crab Spiders)
Genus
Philodromus

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

Habitat and Range

Habitat

"This species has been collected only in Pinyon-Juniper Woodland and shows a marked preference for pinyon pine, Pinus monophylla Torrey and Fremont, but also has been found on Juniperus spp. ".

Geographic Range

California and Arizona .

About Spiders: the wider group

Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Philodromus pinyonelis. 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.

Explore Araneae families and species →

Photos of Philodromus pinyonelis (2)

Philodromus pinyonelis - photo 1
Contributed by Ken Schneider; Additional contributions by cheins
Philodromus pinyonelis - photo 2
Contributed by Ken Schneider; Additional contributions by cheins

Photo credits: Contributed by Ken Schneider; Additional contributions by cheins

Frequently Asked Questions About Philodromus pinyonelis

How big is Philodromus pinyonelis?

Females 5.0-5.5 mm, males 4.5 mm .

How do you identify Philodromus pinyonelis?

Palp: Epigynum:

Where is Philodromus pinyonelis found?
FeatureDetails
HabitatThis species has been collected only in Pinyon-Juniper Woodland and shows a marked preference for pinyon pine, Pinus monophylla Torrey and Fremont, but also has been found on Juniperus spp. .
RangeCalifornia and Arizona .

How we use and review source data. Source count does not imply independent verification.

Photo credits: Contributed by Ken Schneider; Additional contributions by cheins. Contributors retain copyright over their individual contributions.