Phrurolithidae

Banks, 1892

Guardstone Spiders

Genus Guides

Phrurolithidae is a of araneomorph spiders commonly known as guardstone spiders. First described by Nathan Banks in 1892, the family was long treated as a (Phrurolithinae) within Corinnidae until phylogenetic studies established its separate family status. The family currently comprises 27 and approximately 421 . Members are small to medium-sized spiders, predominantly found in the Northern Hemisphere with exceptional diversity in southern China, where many species are to specific mountain localities.

Phrurotimpus by (c) Victor Engel, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Victor Engel. Used under a CC-BY license.

Scotinella redempta by (c) Brendan O'Loughlin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Brendan O'Loughlin. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Phrurolithidae: /ˌfɹuːɹoʊˈlɪθɪˌdaɪ/

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Identification

Phrurolithidae can be distinguished from related by their characteristic arrangement: eight eyes in two rows, with the row typically recurved. The family is characterized by small to medium body size (generally 2.5–5.0 mm), compact , and distinctive copulatory organs. Males possess palps with retrolateral tibial , embolus, and tegular apophysis; females have epigynes with copulatory ducts, spermathecae, and ducts. The family was historically confused with Corinnidae but separated based on phylogenetic evidence and somatic characters.

Images

Habitat

Phrurolithidae occupy diverse terrestrial , predominantly in mountainous regions. Many species are associated with forest floor litter, soil, and rocky substrates. In China, species have been recorded at elevations ranging from 362 m to 1338 m in pine-oak forests, mixed forests, and cave systems. Some species exhibit troglobitic adaptations, including eyelessness and depigmentation, in cave environments.

Distribution

The has an almost exclusively Holarctic distribution. The Phrurolithus, the largest in the family with 71 , shows this pattern clearly: 34 species in the Palaearctic, 35 in the Nearctic, and two on Hispaniola. However, the family exhibits exceptional diversity in East Asia, particularly southern China (Jiangxi, Guangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Hubei, Anhui, Guizhou, Guangdong provinces), where the majority of species and genera have been described. Other records include Azerbaijan, Iran, Tajikistan, Vietnam, Laos, Mexico, and the United States (Vermont).

Similar Taxa

CorinnidaePhrurolithidae was historically classified as Phrurolithinae within Corinnidae; separated based on phylogenetic studies and somatic characters including arrangement and copulatory organ .
LiocranidaeBoth contain small ground-dwelling spiders with similar habits; distinguished by detailed copulatory organ structure and arrangement patterns.

More Details

Taxonomic History

The was first described by Nathan Banks in 1892. It was later included in Corinnidae as the Phrurolithinae. Phylogenetic studies provided justification for recognition as a separate family. In 2024, 27 Chinese previously classified in Phrurolithus were transferred to Otacilia based on somatic characters and copulatory organ .

Research Activity

Phrurolithidae has been the subject of intensive taxonomic research in China, with numerous new and described since 2020. Recent studies have described new genera including Alboculus, Bosselaerius, Grandilithus, Mutatus, and Xilithus, primarily from southern Chinese provinces.