Calponia harrisonfordi
Encyclopedia
Calponia harrisonfordi is a species of spider
discovered in 1993 by the arachnologist
Norman I. Platnick
, and named after the film actor Harrison Ford
to thank him for narrating a documentary for the Natural History Museum
in London. It is the only species of the genus Calponia, and is one of the most primitive members of the Caponiidae family.
C. harrisonfordi is found in California
in the United States
. Unlike most members of its family, C. harrisonfordi retains all eight eyes and has few of the family's characteristic distal leg segment modifications. It is roughly 5 mm in length. Much of its physiology is not well understood, but it is thought to eat other spiders.
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
discovered in 1993 by the arachnologist
Arachnology
Arachnology is the scientific study of spiders and related animals such as scorpions, pseudoscorpions, harvestmen, collectively called arachnids. However, the study of ticks and mites is sometimes not included in arachnology, but is called Acarology...
Norman I. Platnick
Norman I. Platnick
Norman I. Platnick is an American arachnologist, and the Peter J. Solomon Family Curator of the invertebrate zoology department of the American Museum of Natural History. A 1973 Ph.D...
, and named after the film actor Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford is an American film actor and producer. He is famous for his performances as Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy and as the title character of the Indiana Jones film series. Ford is also known for his roles as Rick Deckard in Blade Runner, John Book in Witness and Jack Ryan in...
to thank him for narrating a documentary for the Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum is one of three large museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London, England . Its main frontage is on Cromwell Road...
in London. It is the only species of the genus Calponia, and is one of the most primitive members of the Caponiidae family.
C. harrisonfordi is found in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Unlike most members of its family, C. harrisonfordi retains all eight eyes and has few of the family's characteristic distal leg segment modifications. It is roughly 5 mm in length. Much of its physiology is not well understood, but it is thought to eat other spiders.