Necrotic-venom
Guides
Sicariidae
Sixeyed Sicariid Spiders, recluse spiders, violin spiders, sand spiders, assassin spiders
Sicariidae is a family of haplogyne spiders comprising three genera—Loxosceles, Sicarius, and Hexophthalma—with approximately 177-180 species. Members are characterized by six eyes arranged in three dyads (pairs), a distinctive trait among spiders. The family includes medically significant species such as the brown recluse (Loxosceles reclusa) and six-eyed sand spiders. All genera produce sphingomyelinase D or related tissue-destroying substances in their venom, unique among spiders. The family exhibits diverse ecological strategies: Loxosceles species are synanthropic and found nearly worldwide in warmer regions, while Sicarius and Hexophthalma are specialized desert dwellers with self-burying behavior.