Araneus gemma
| Cat-faced Orb-weaver | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Suborder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Araneidae |
| Genus: | Araneus |
| Species: | A. gemma |
| Binomial name | |
| Araneus gemma McCook, 1888 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Epeira gemma | |
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,[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
- ↑ 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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