Pachygnatha clercki
Sundevall, 1823
Pachygnatha clercki is a long-jawed orb-weaver spider in the Tetragnathidae. It has a broad distribution spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. The belongs to a characterized by enlarged in males. Research on related species in the genus has documented on nymphs, suggesting potential ecological importance as a of medically significant arthropods.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Pachygnatha clercki: //pəˈkɪɡ.næθ.ə ˈklɛrk.aɪ//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Identification
Members of the Pachygnatha are distinguished from other Tetragnathidae by their relatively robust body form compared to the slender build typical of the . Males possess conspicuously enlarged (jaws), a sexually dimorphic trait that separates them from females and from many other long-jawed orb-weaver genera. -level identification within Pachygnatha requires examination of genitalia and other detailed morphological features.
Images
Distribution
North America, Europe, Caucasus, Russia (European part to Far East), Kazakhstan, Iran, Central Asia, China, Korea, and Japan.
Ecological Role
A , Pachygnatha listeri, has been documented as a of Ixodes ricinus nymphs in stable isotope labeling studies, representing the first record of Tetragnathidae consuming tick nymphs. This suggests that Pachygnatha may contribute to of tick in soil and leaf litter .
Similar Taxa
- Pachygnatha listeriCongeneric with similar and ; the two species may overlap in distribution in parts of Europe and Asia.
- Tetragnatha speciesOther long-jawed orb-weavers in the same , but typically more slender in body form with proportionally longer legs; males lack the dramatically enlarged seen in Pachygnatha.
More Details
Taxonomic note
The Pachygnatha is part of the diverse long-jawed orb-weaver Tetragnathidae, which includes spiders with elongated jaws and often elongated bodies. The family is known for its web-building and includes both and .