Araneus gemma, commonly known as the cat-faced spider (a name shared with Araneus gemmoides) or jeweled orbweaver spider, is a common outdoor orb-weaver spider found in the western United States and Canada.
| Araneus gemma | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Araneidae |
| Genus: | Araneus |
| Species: | A. gemma
|
| Binomial name | |
| Araneus gemma McCook, 1888
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Epeira gemma | |
Like most Araneus species, A. gemma is harmless to humans. It contains a venomous toxin of low molecular weight called argiotoxin,[1] that antagonizes the actions of the neurotransmitter glutamate.[2] Dopamine was also identified in the venom of A. gemma in a concentration of 4.3 nM.[3]
The web silk of the A. gemma ranges from 1 to 4 μm in diameter.[4]
References
edit- ^ K F Tipton (ed). Neurotoxins in Neurobiology Taylor & Francis, 1994; page 7. ISBN 013614991X
- ^ Geoffrey A. Cordell. Chemistry and Pharmacology (Google eBook). Academic Press, Jul 27, 1995; page 69. ISBN 0124695469.
- ^ Spider Physiology and Behaviour: Physiology Academic Press, Nov 26, 2011; page 23. ISBN 0123876680
- ^ David Kaplan, Kevin McGrath. Protein-Based Materials Springer, 1997; page 113. ISBN 0817638482.
External links
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