Araneus gemma
| Cat-faced orb-weaver | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Suborder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Araneidae |
| Genus: | Araneus |
| Species: | A. gemma |
| Binomial name | |
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Araneus gemma McCook, 1888 |
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| Synonyms | |
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Epeira gemma |
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Epeira gemma
Araneus pirus
Araneus gemmus
Araneus gemma, commonly known as the cat-faced spider (a name shared with Araneus gemmoides), is a common outdoor orb-weaver spider found in the western United States and Canada.
Like most Araneus species, A. gemma is harmless to humans. It contains a venomous toxin of low molecular weight called argiotoxin, that antagonizes the actions of the neurotransmitter glutamate.Dopamine was also identified in the venom of A. gemma in a concentration of 4.3 nM.
The web silk of the A. gemma ranges from 1 to 4 μm in diameter.
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Wikipedia