Sit-and-wait-predators
Guides
Segestriidae
Tube-dwelling spiders, Tunnel spiders
Segestriidae is a family of tube-dwelling spiders comprising two large and widespread genera (Segestria and Ariadna) and two smaller genera (Citharoceps and Gippsicola). Members are easily recognized by having six eyes arranged in a semicircle (rather than the typical eight eyes of most spiders) and the first three pairs of legs arranged forward (rather than two). These morphological features appear to be adaptations for living in silken tubes or burrows. The family has a global distribution across all continents except Antarctica, with greatest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. The genus Ariadna alone contains 102 of the 127 described species in the family.