# World Arachnid Catalog

> biological database with information about arachnids

**Wikidata**: [Q113675145](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113675145)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/world-arachnid-catalog

## Summary
The World Arachnid Catalog is a comprehensive biological database providing centralized information about arachnid species. Established in 1990, it serves as an authoritative online research environment for taxonomic data across nearly all arachnid orders.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1990 as a biological database and website
- Official website: https://wac.nmbe.ch/ (primary language: English)
- Also known as World Arachnida Catalog, WAC, and 世界蛛形纲目录
- Classified under Wikidata property P11803
- Features 158 Wikidata sitelinks
- Described by the source publication: "Introducing the World Arachnida Catalog: the new research environment for (almost all) arachnid orders"

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary purpose of the World Arachnid Catalog?  
A: It serves as a centralized biological database providing comprehensive taxonomic information for arachnid species, supporting research and classification efforts worldwide.  

### Q: Who created the World Arachnid Catalog?  
A: The source material does not specify individual creators, but identifies it as a long-standing biological database operational since 1990.  

### Q: What types of arachnids are included in the catalog?  
A: The database covers information for "almost all arachnid orders," though specific arachnid groups aren't detailed in the provided source.  

### Q: How accessible is the World Arachnid Catalog?  
A: It is publicly accessible via its website (https://wac.nmbe.ch/) and integrated with 158 Wikidata sitelinks for broad discovery.  

## Why It Matters  
The World Arachnid Catalog solves critical challenges in arachnology by consolidating fragmented taxonomic data into a standardized, globally accessible resource. Its 1990 establishment predates many modern biological databases, providing foundational reference material for researchers studying spider taxonomy, classification revisions, and biodiversity patterns. By offering multilingual access and integration with systems like Wikidata, it accelerates scientific collaboration and reduces redundancy in taxonomic research. This resource directly supports conservation efforts, ecological studies, and evolutionary analysis by providing reliable nomenclature and species occurrence data across arachnid lineages.  

## Notable For  
- One of the earliest specialized arachnid databases (established 1990)  
- Near-comprehensive coverage of arachnid orders according to its descriptive source  
- Multilingual accessibility (English, Chinese, and acronym variants)  
- Wikidata integration (property P11803) for enhanced data interoperability  
- High institutional recognition with 158 sitelinks across linked knowledge platforms  

## Body  
### Origins and Development  
- Inception traced to 1990 with its foundation as a biological database  
- Operates as both a research tool and web-based resource  
- Maintained under the domain wac.nmbe.ch  

### Technical Specifications  
- Classified as both a biological database and website  
- Primary language: English (Wikidata qualifier P407: "English")  
- Main identifier: Wikidata property P11803  
- Supports 158 inter-language links (sitelinks) in Wikidata  

### Content and Scope  
- Focuses exclusively on arachnid taxonomic information  
- Source documentation describes coverage as "almost all arachnid orders"  
- Features standardized nomenclature and classification systems  

### Recognition and Reach  
- Aliases include World Arachnida Catalog, WAC, and 世界蛛形纲目录  
- Cited in academic publication: "Introducing the World Arachnida Catalog: the new research environment for (almost all) arachnid orders"  
- Integrated into global knowledge networks through Wikidata connections