Prodidomus rufus
This record describes Prodidomus rufus (species). Recorded family: Prodidomidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Prodidomus rufus is a species of true spider in the family Prodidominae. It is found in Israel, China, Japan, New Caledonia, the United States, Cuba, Argentina, Chile, and St. Helena.
Identification notes
voucher image male palp
Wikipedia reference for Prodidomus rufus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prodidomus rufus.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Prodidomidae (long-spinneret ground spiders)
- Genus
- Prodidomus
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
southern CA, TX to AL
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author of the name: Hentz. Year first published: 1847.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Prodidomus rufus. 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 Prodidomus rufus (6)
Photo credits: Contributed by Lynette Elliott; Additional contributions by kschnei , Mandy Howe
Frequently Asked Questions About Prodidomus rufus
What is Prodidomus rufus?
Prodidomus rufus is a species in the family Prodidomidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Prodidomus rufus?
voucher image male palp
Where is Prodidomus rufus found?
Range: southern CA, TX to AL