''Calponia'' is a
monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
araneomorph
The Araneomorphae (also called the Labidognatha) are an infraorder of spiders. They are distinguishable by chelicerae (fangs) that point diagonally forward and cross in a pinching action, in contrast to the Mygalomorphae (tarantulas and their cl ...
spiders in the family
Caponiidae
Caponiidae is a family of ecribellate haplogyne spiders that are unusual in a number of ways. They differ from other spiders in lacking book lungs and having the posterior median spinnerets anteriorly displaced to form a transverse row with the a ...
, containing the single species, ''Calponia harrisonfordi''. It was first described in 1993 by
Norman I. Platnick, who named the type species after the film actor
Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor. His films have grossed more than $5.4billion in North America and more than $9.3billion worldwide, making him the seventh-highest-grossing actor in North America. He is the recipient o ...
to thank him for narrating a documentary for the
Natural History Museum
A natural history museum or museum of natural history is a scientific institution with natural history collections that include current and historical records of animals, plants, fungi, ecosystems, geology, paleontology, climatology, and more. ...
in London.
It has only been found in
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
in the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
.
Description
It is roughly in length, and is one of the most primitive members of its family. Unlike its more modern relatives, it has few of the family's characteristic distal leg segment modifications and retains all eight eyes. Much of its physiology is not well understood, but it is thought to eat other spiders.
See also
*''
Pheidole harrisonfordi
''Pheidole harrisonfordi'' is a species of ant in the genus ''Pheidole''. ''P. harrisonfordi'' lives in the Americas, mostly in neotropical countries such as Belize, Colombia, southern Mexico, Panama, Guatemala and other central American nations. ...
''
*
List of organisms named after famous people (born 1900–1949)
In biological nomenclature, organisms often receive scientific names that honor a person. A taxon (e.g. species or genus; plural: taxa) named in honor of another entity is an eponymous taxon, and names specifically honoring a person or persons ar ...
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q14622953, from2=Q135223
Caponiidae
Endemic fauna of California
Spiders of the United States
Monotypic Araneomorphae genera
Taxa named by Norman I. Platnick