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Walckenaeria

genus of arachnids

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Record originEnglish Wikipedia
Text licenseCC BY-SA 4.0
Source revisionMar 27, 2026
Entity authorityQ2518986
Source-derived summary

Walckenaeria is a genus of dwarf spiders that was first described by John Blackwall in 1833. It is a senior synonym of Paragonatium, as well as Wideria, Cornicularia, Prosopotheca, Tigellinus, and Trachynella.

Some males in this group have eyes set up on mounds or turrets. In extreme cases, several eyes are on a stalk taller than the carapace itself.

Species

As of September 2020 it contains 195 species and two subspecies:

Formerly included:

W. anceps Xu, 1985 (Transferred to Argyrodes)

W. anguilliformis Xia, Zhang, Gao, Fei & Kim, 2001 (Transferred to Shaanxinus)

W. bella (Paik, 1978) (Transferred to Paikiniana)

W. caobangensis Tu & Li, 2004 (Transferred to Nasoona)

W. cylindrica Xu, 1994 (Transferred to Paikiniana)

W. dentata Zhu & Zhou, 1988 (Transferred to Dactylopisthes)

W. imadatei (Oi, 1964) (Transferred to Oia)

W. iriei Ono, 2007 (Transferred to Paikiniana)

W. kamakuraensis (Oi, 1960) (Transferred to Baryphymula)

W. keikoae Saito, 1988 (Transferred to Paikiniana)

W. lurida Seo, 1991 (Transferred to Paikiniana)

W. mira (Oi, 1960) (Transferred to Paikiniana)

W. patagonica Tullgren, 1901 (Transferred to Neomaso)

W. pini (Holm, 1950) (Transferred to Baryphyma)

W. saitoi Ono, 1991 (Transferred to Ainerigone)

W. selma (Chamberlin, 1949) (Transferred to Scylaceus)

W. sounkyoensis Saito, 1986 (Transferred to Okhotigone)

W. transversa (Crosby, 1905) (Transferred to Tennesseellum)

W. vulgaris (Oi, 1960) (Transferred to Paikiniana)

W. xui Platnick, 1989 (Transferred to Argyrodes)

Nomina dubia

W. bicolor Blackwall, 1841

W. dulciacensis (Denis, 1950

W. exilis Blackwall, 1853

W. fusca Roșca, 1935

W. mengei Bösenberg, 1902

W. parva Blackwall, 1841

W. vafra Blackwall, 1856

References

Further reading

Millidge, A. F. (1983). "The erigonine spiders of North America. Part 6. The genus Walckenaeria Blackwall (Araneae, Linyphiidae)". Journal of Arachnology. 11: 105–200 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.

Editorial summary

This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Walckenaeria” as genus of arachnids. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.

Editorial reviewA practical orientation to terminology and classification, particularly when read beside dated observations, specimens or technical literature. The current lead gives the account dated anchors—1833, 2020, 1985, 2001—that can be checked directly. The selected authority fields contribute no independent date. The account is most persuasive where Walckenaeria, genus and arachnids can be independently traced.
Editorial analysis

Why this record matters

The subject matters to the science & nature register because the source frames it as genus of arachnids. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.

Evidence profile

Stable identifiers, scientific names and standards terminology offer the best bridge between this overview and specialist evidence. The source revision retrieved here is dated Mar 27, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q2518986. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1833, 2020, 1985 and 2001.

Critical limits

Current terminology should not be projected backward without checking the classification used when the underlying evidence was created. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.

How to read it

Check terminology, classification and the date of the cited evidence. Scientific names and technical consensus can change while older records retain historical value.

Best used for
  • Current terminology
  • Classification context
  • Finding cited technical literature
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Primary datasets, specimen catalogues, standards bodies and the most recent peer-reviewed literature.

Three-step research path

  1. Establish the record: confirm the title “Walckenaeria”, its source revision and the description used here.
  2. Expand the search: follow Walckenaeria primary sources, Walckenaeria archive and Walckenaeria research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
  3. Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.

Questions for further research

  1. Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Walckenaeria”?
  2. Is the terminology current, historical or disputed?
  3. Which observation, specimen, dataset or publication supports the account?
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Source & attribution

This entry incorporates text from Walckenaeria” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.