Eye-reduction
Guides
Anapidae
Ground Orb-web Spiders
Anapidae is a family of minute spiders containing approximately 233 extant species in 59 genera, with most adults measuring less than 2 mm in body length. The family has undergone significant taxonomic revision, incorporating the former families Micropholcommatidae and Holarchaeidae as subfamilies. Members are primarily ground-dwelling inhabitants of moist forest habitats, where many species construct diminutive orb webs less than 3 cm in diameter. The group exhibits remarkable anatomical conservation despite extreme miniaturization, retaining complete organ systems and musculature that comparable-sized insects often reduce or lose.
Archoleptoneta
Archoleptoneta is a genus of small spiders in the family Archoleptonetidae, containing only two known species restricted to the United States. The genus was established by Gertsch in 1974 and is characterized by reduced eyes and troglobitic adaptations. These spiders are among the least studied North American arachnids, with very few observations recorded.
Blabomma californicum
Blabomma californicum is a species of true spider first described by Simon in 1895. It belongs to the family Cybaeidae (previously placed in Dictynidae). The species is notable for having only six eyes rather than the typical eight eyes found in most spiders. It occurs in western North America across Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and is listed as imperiled in Canada.
Cladonychiidae
cladonychiid harvestmen
A small family of harvestmen (suborder Laniatores) comprising approximately 33 described species. Body length ranges from under two to about four millimeters. Members possess robust, spined pedipalps and relatively short legs, though the second pair may reach two centimeters. Coloration varies from reddish brown to dark brown in surface-dwelling species to pale yellow in cave-dwelling forms.
Gabrius micropthalmus
Gabrius micropthalmus is a species of rove beetle in the family Staphylinidae, tribe Staphylinini. The species epithet 'micropthalmus' refers to its characteristically reduced eyes. It belongs to a genus of predatory rove beetles found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. The species is known from limited records and is not well studied.
Geocolus
Geocolus is a monotypic genus of clown beetles (family Histeridae) containing a single described species, G. caecus. The genus is notable for its highly specialized subterranean ecology. The sole species exhibits extreme morphological adaptations for underground life, including near-complete eye reduction and depigmentation.