Family ANYPHAENIDAE Bertkau, 1878

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Introduction

Medium to large, 2-clawed spiders with claw tufts composed of lamelliform setae. Tracheal spiracle a short distance forward of spinnerets (tracheal tubes extend into cephalothorax). Colulus present. Eyes in two rows. Trichobothria in a double row on tibiae, a single row on metatarsi, and a double row on tarsi. In Australia Amaurobioides, known from coastal Tasmania and South Australia, lives in a nest of tough white silk in crevices and holes in rocks near high-tide mark. In Amaurobioides the trochanters are un-notched and the compact eye group is on a low projecting mound.

Diagnosis

Medium to large (4–30mm) entelegyne intertidal or littoral spiders. Eyes: 8; group about 0.5-0.7 of headwidth; in two conservatively curved rows. Cheliceral margins with 3 or more teeth; laterally with condyle; fangs transverse, chelicerae porrect. Maxillae longer than wide; straight or medially constricted. Labium longer than wide; rectangular or lanceolate. Single broad tracheal spiracle remote from spinnerets. Spinnerets all about same length; colulus small.
Legs prograde; no retrocoxal hymen on leg I . 2 claws; with denseclaw tufts. Scopula only on tarsi and metatarsi I. II.
Male palp with retrolateral tibial apophysis.

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