Hacklemesh Weavers

Amaurobiidae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Amaurobiidae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Amaurobiidae: /ˌæmɔːrəˈbɪɪdae/

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Summary

Amaurobiidae, or Hacklemesh Weavers, is a diverse family of spiders known for their three-clawed cribellate or ecribellate features, found in various habitats primarily on the forest floor. The family has undergone revisions based on extensive genetic studies, leading to debates on its classification and relationships with other spider families.

Physical Characteristics

Size ranges from 1.3 to 20.0 mm; generally have eight similar eyes in two conservatively curved rows; often possess a calamistrum on metatarsus IV associated with a cribellum.

Identification Tips

Difficult to distinguish from related spiders in families such as Agelenidae, Desidae, and Amphinectidae due to similarities. Visual identification may require close inspection rather than photographs.

Habitat

Cryptozoic habitats on the forest floor, including decomposing logs, leaf litter, under rocks, bark cavities of standing trees, rocky grasslands, buildings, and caves.

Distribution

Distributed across the United States and Canada, with highest species diversity from California north to British Columbia. In Australia, they are found primarily in Tasmania and the cooler rainforest areas of mainland Australia, as well as along the eastern coastline.

Diet

Feeding habits not specified; likely includes small insects and other invertebrates, typical of spider diets.

Collecting Methods

Pitfall traps
Visual field sampling in habitats such as leaf litter and under stones

Evolution

The family has undergone significant changes, gaining and losing several genera due to DNA analysis of spider families. It has retained characteristics of cribellate or ecribellate spiders.

Similar Taxa

Agelenidae
Desidae
Amphinectidae

Misconceptions

The placement of species and genera in this family can be subjective, with many species hard to distinguish from each other, leading to possible misidentification.