''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 "unisp ...
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
araneomorph
The Araneomorphae (also called the Labidognatha or "true spiders") 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 (taran ...
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 th ...
, containing the single species, ''Calponia harrisonfordi''. It was first described in 1993 by
Norman I. Platnick
Norman Ira Platnick (December 30, 1951 – April 8, 2020) was an American biological systematist and Arachnology, arachnologist. At the time of his death, he was a professor emeritus of the American Museum of Natural History#Richard Gilder Gradua ...
, who named the type species after the film actor
Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor. Regarded as a cinematic cultural icon, he has starred in Harrison Ford filmography, many notable films over seven decades, and is one of List of highest-grossing actors, the highest-gr ...
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 scientific collection, collections that include current and historical records of animals, plants, Fungus, fungi, ecosystems, geology, paleo ...
in London.
It has only been found in
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
.
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 subfamily Myrmicinae. ''P. harrisonfordi'' lives in the Americas, mostly in neotropical countries such as Belize, Colombia, southern Mexico, Panama, Guatemala and other Central American nation ...
''
*
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 ...
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q14622953, from2=Q135223
Caponiidae
Caponiidae genera
Endemic fauna of California
Endemic spiders of the United States
Monotypic Araneomorphae genera
Taxa named by Norman I. Platnick