Hunting-spiders
Guides
Anahita
Anahita is a genus of wandering spiders in the family Ctenidae, established by Karsch in 1879. The genus name derives from an Iranian goddess associated with waters and fertility. These spiders are part of the diverse tropical and subtropical spider fauna, with species distributed across parts of Asia and Africa. As ctenids, they possess characteristic eye arrangements and are active hunters rather than web-builders.
Oxyopidae
Lynx Spiders
Oxyopidae, commonly known as lynx spiders, is a family of hunting spiders characterized by their spiny legs and active predatory behavior. Most species are diurnal hunters that rely on vision and agility rather than web-building to capture prey. The family includes notable genera such as Oxyopes, Peucetia, and Hamataliwa, with Peucetia viridans (green lynx spider) being among the largest North American species. While most lynx spiders are solitary, at least one species, Tapinillus sp., has been documented exhibiting social behavior including cooperative prey capture and communal web maintenance—the first such report for the family.
Pisauridae
Nursery Web Spiders, Fishing Spiders
Pisauridae is a moderately diverse family of hunting spiders comprising approximately 333 described species worldwide. Members exhibit exceptional behavioral diversity, ranging from web-based hunters and water surface hunters to ambush hunters in vegetation. The family is best known for the distinctive 'nursery web' behavior: females carry egg sacs with their jaws and pedipalps (not spinnerets), then construct protective silk tents for emerging spiderlings, which they guard until dispersal. The European species Pisaura mirabilis is the namesake 'nursery web spider,' though the family includes fishing spiders (Dolomedes), semi-aquatic specialists, and strictly terrestrial forms.