Oonopidae
Guides
Escaphiella
Escaphiella is a genus of dwarf goblin spiders in the family Oonopidae, established in 2009 by arachnologists Norman Platnick and Nadine Dupérré. The genus contains 36 described species distributed across the Americas, from the southwestern United States through Mexico, Central America, and into South America. Most species were described in the original 2009 revision, though some were transferred from other genera based on newly recognized morphological characters.
Escaphiella hespera
goblin spider
Escaphiella hespera is a species of goblin spider in the family Oonopidae, characterized by small body size and reduced eye structures typical of this spider family. The species was described by Chamberlin in 1924 and is known from the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other oonopids, it likely inhabits leaf litter and soil microhabitats, though detailed ecological studies are lacking.
Heteroonops
Heteroonops is a genus of goblin spiders (family Oonopidae) described by Dalmas in 1916. The genus contains approximately 25 species as of 2021. These spiders are part of the diverse Oonopidae family, which are characterized by their small size and compact body form. Members of this genus are found in various regions, with distribution records including Denmark.
Heteroonops spinimanus
Heteroonops spinimanus is a small spider in the family Oonopidae (dwarf goblin spiders), first described by Eugène Simon in 1892. The species has a notably broad distribution, having been recorded across the Americas and subsequently introduced to multiple regions worldwide including Europe, Africa, and the Pacific. Its wide geographic spread suggests human-mediated dispersal, though specific transport mechanisms remain undocumented. As a member of Oonopidae, it belongs to one of the most species-rich spider families, characterized by minute body size and simplified eye arrangements.
Opopaea
goblin spiders
Opopaea is a large genus of minute goblin spiders in the family Oonopidae, containing approximately 180-190 accepted species. These spiders are characterized by their extremely small size (under 2 mm), six-eyed arrangement, and reddish-brown coloration. The genus is one of the most species-rich within the Oonopidae family, with representatives found across multiple continents including Australia and Sri Lanka. Species in this genus inhabit leaf litter and forest floor habitats, where their diminutive size and cryptic coloration make them difficult to detect.
Opopaea deserticola
Goblin spider
Opopaea deserticola is a species of goblin spider in the family Oonopidae, first described by Eugène Simon in 1892. Originally described from Southeast Asia, this species has demonstrated remarkable dispersal capabilities and is now recognized as having one of the widest distributions among oonopid spiders. It has been introduced to numerous regions worldwide including the Americas, Pacific islands, Atlantic islands, and Japan. The species is part of a diverse radiation of minute spiders that inhabit leaf litter and soil microhabitats, where their small size and cryptic coloration make them exceptionally difficult to detect.
Orchestina
goblin spiders
Orchestina is a species-rich genus of tiny goblin spiders (family Oonopidae) containing over 180 extant species. Members measure 1.0–3.0 mm in body length and possess an enlarged fourth femur enabling jumping. The genus exhibits a nearly global distribution in the Northern Hemisphere south of 45°N, with highest diversity in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. First described by Eugène Simon in 1882.
Orchestina quasimodo
Orchestina quasimodo is a species of goblin spider (family Oonopidae) described from the United States in 2017. The species epithet references Quasimodo, the hunchbacked bell-ringer of Notre-Dame, presumably alluding to some morphological feature of the species. Oonopidae are among the most diverse spider families, characterized by their small size and reduced eye complements. Most members of the genus Orchestina are found in leaf litter and soil habitats.
Tapinesthis inermis
Tapinesthis inermis is a minute spider species in the family Oonopidae (dwarf goblin spiders). It is the sole member of its genus, which was established by Simon in 1914 based on specimens originally described as Oonops inermis in 1882. The species is native to Europe and has been introduced to North America (Canada and USA).