Active-hunters

Guides

• Miturgidae

  Prowling Spiders

  Miturgidae is a family of araneomorph spiders commonly known as prowling spiders. The family includes approximately 160-200 species across 33 genera worldwide. Members are small to medium-sized, active hunters that do not construct permanent webs for prey capture. The family has undergone substantial taxonomic revision, with the former family Zoridae synonymized and the genus Cheiracanthium (longlegged sac spiders) transferred to the separate family Cheiracanthiidae.

  araneomorphaespidersprowling-spidersnocturnalactive-hunterssac-spidersground-spidersfoliage-spiderstaxonomic-revisionCheiracanthium-excludedZoridae-synonymized

• Pardosa

  Thin-legged Wolf Spiders

  Pardosa is a large genus of wolf spiders comprising over 500 described species with worldwide distribution except Australia. These spiders are generally small to medium-sized (3–12 mm body length), characterized by long, thin legs with prominent perpendicular spines. They occupy diverse habitats including wetlands, woodlands, grasslands, and high-elevation environments. Many species exhibit sexual dimorphism in coloration, with mature males often displaying distinct patterns from females. Species identification requires microscopic examination of genitalia.

  spiderswolf-spidersLycosidaeground-dwellingpredatorsworldwide-distributionsexual-dimorphismegg-sac-carryingactive-huntersripariangeneralist-predatorscold-hardyhigh-elevation

• Philodromidae

  Running Crab Spiders, Philodromid Crab Spiders

  Philodromidae is a family of araneomorph spiders comprising over 530 species across 31 genera. Members are commonly called running crab spiders or philodromid crab spiders due to their crab-like appearance and sideways-oriented legs. Unlike true crab spiders (Thomisidae), philodromids do not construct webs for prey capture but instead hunt by ambush. They are primarily associated with vegetation, where they occur on stems, leaves, and tree trunks.

  spidersAraneaeactive-huntersambush-predatorsvegetation-dwellingnon-web-buildinglaterigrade-legstemperateborealcosmopolitan

• Pirata

  pirate wolf spiders

  Pirata is a genus of wolf spiders (family Lycosidae) commonly known as pirate wolf spiders. These spiders are characterized by their association with moist habitats and distinctive eye arrangement typical of lycosids. The genus was established by Sundevall in 1833 and contains multiple species distributed across North America and Eurasia. Pirata species are active hunters that do not build permanent webs for prey capture.

  spidersLycosidaewolf-spiderswetlandHolarcticactive-huntersepigynumpedipalp