Glenognatha

Distinguished from other Tetragnathidae by the combination of small size (3–5 mm), pear-shaped and truncated carapace, elevated eye region with smallest anterior median eyes, and absence of leg spines. Males are further identified by long, robust chelicerae. The horizontal, asymmetrical orb-web with tight mesh and debris attachments resembles Uloborus webs, but Glenognatha belongs to Tetragnathidae rather than Uloboridae.

Small spiders with total length of 3–5 mm in both sexes. Carapace pear-shaped, dark and shiny, slightly punctuated, and truncated anteriorly. Eye region elevated with eyes prominent in two rows; anterior median eyes smallest. Abdomen round and shiny, usually with dark spots. Legs long, especially first two pairs, lacking spines. Males possess long, robust chelicerae.

Forest understory vegetation, sampled between leaves in the ground layer.

North America, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, French Polynesian Islands, and Saint Helena.

Constructs horizontal, asymmetrical orb-webs with tight mesh featuring closely set spirals and numerous radii. Attaches small pieces of debris to the web and hides beneath them when disturbed, adopting a cryptic posture.

• UloborusWeb architecture, stabilimentum, and cryptic posture are very similar; both construct horizontal asymmetrical orb-webs with debris attachments. Distinguished by family placement (Uloboridae vs. Tetragnathidae) and morphological features including carapace shape and male cheliceral morphology.

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life