Synema viridans
This record describes Synema viridans (species). Recorded family: Thomisidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Females are pale to bright green. Eye tubercles are white in both sexes. Male dorsum with six transverse red bands, the anterior one broken.
Wikipedia reference for Synema viridans: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synema_viridans.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Thomisidae (Crab Spiders)
- Genus
- Synema
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Southeastern US, TX & Iowa.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Author of the name: Banks. Year first published: 1896.
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Synema viridans. 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 Synema viridans (6)
Photo credits: (c) Judy Gallagher, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Judy Gallagher | (c) amarcianae, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by amarcianae | (c) yukioz, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by yukioz | (c) Robert Benson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Robert Benson | (c) Kate Dolamore, all rights reserved, uploaded by Kate Dolamore | (c) aditya_mardikar, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC) | Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Lynette Elliott
Frequently Asked Questions About Synema viridans
What is Synema viridans?
Synema viridans is a species in the family Thomisidae, within the order Araneae.
How big is Synema viridans?
Female 4 mm Male 3 mm
How do you identify Synema viridans?
Females are pale to bright green. Eye tubercles are white in both sexes. Male dorsum with six transverse red bands, the anterior one broken.
Where is Synema viridans found?
Range: Southeastern US, TX & Iowa.