Stiphidiidae

Stiphidiidae, also called sheetweb spiders, is a family of araneomorph spiders first described in 1917,[1] Most species are medium size (Stiphidion facetum is about 8 millimetres (0.31 in) long) and speckled brown with long legs. All members of this family occur in New Zealand and Australia except for Asmea.[2] They build a horizontal sheet-like web under rocks, hence the name "sheetweb spiders".

"Sheetweb spider" redirects here. For sheet weavers, see Linyphiidae.

Sheetweb spiders
Stiphidion facetum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Stiphidiidae
Dalmas, 1917
Diversity
20 genera, 126 species

The largest of New Zealand's species is Cambridgea foliata, with a body length up to 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) and a span of up to 15 centimetres (5.9 in). Hikers and trampers often find their sheet-like webs that can be up to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) across, but the spider itself is nocturnal, spending the day time inside its web tunnel.[3] It can also be found in gardens and males may enter human homes. Their large size, including mouth parts up to 1 centimetre (0.39 in) long, may be intimidating, but it is considered harmless to humans and bites are extremely rare.

Genera
Main article: List of Stiphidiidae species

As of April 2019, the World Spider Catalog accepts the following genera:[2]

Tartarus mullamullangensis and sheet web
Cambridgea foliata
  • Aorangia Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
  • Asmea Gray & Smith, 2008 — Papua New Guinea
  • Borrala Gray & Smith, 2004 — Australia
  • Carbinea Davies, 1999 — Australia
  • Couranga Gray & Smith, 2008 — Australia
  • Elleguna Gray & Smith, 2008 — Australia
  • Jamberoo Gray & Smith, 2008 — Australia
  • Kababina Davies, 1995 — Australia
  • Karriella Gray & Smith, 2008 — Australia
  • Malarina Davies & Lambkin, 2000 — Australia
  • Marplesia Lehtinen, 1967 — New Zealand
  • Neolana Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
  • Neoramia Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
  • Pillara Gray & Smith, 2004 — Australia
  • Procambridgea Forster & Wilton, 1973 — Australia, New Zealand
  • Stiphidion Simon, 1902 — Australia, New Zealand
  • Tartarus Gray, 1973 — Australia
  • Therlinya Gray & Smith, 2002 — Australia
  • Tjurunga Lehtinen, 1967 — Australia
  • Wabua Davies, 2000 — Australia

See also

References
  1. Dalmas, R. de (1917). "Araignées de Nouvelle-Zélande". Annales de la Société Entomologique de France. 86: 317–430.
  2. "Family: Stiphidiidae Dalmas, 1917". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2019-04-24.
  3. "SHEETWEB SPIDER". Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. Retrieved 2019-04-24.


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