Family PISAURIDAE Simon, 1890

Museums

Regional Maps

Introduction

The Pisauridae are typically associated with water but also build extensive sheet webs. Dolomedes species, our commonest pisaurids, are hunting spiders and usually found near water. They rest by day under stones or stretched out on the underside of branches. Other pisaurids (e.g., Dendrolycosa, Inola) spin large sheet webs on which prey is trapped. The webs are usually built against tree trunks or rocks with retreats going back into crevices; the spiders run on the top of the sheet.

Diagnosis

The Pisauridae have 3 claws, the eyes are in 2 or 3 rows with the eyes of the front row smaller than those of the back; the back row may be so strongly curved back as to form a third row, the retrocoxal hymen is absent and a predistal tarsal fracture is evident on leg tarsi, and trochanters are all deeply notched. Medium to large, 3-clawed spiders. Posterior row eyes recurved. A row of trichobothria on metatarsi and tarsi. Male palpal tibia with apophysis (cf Lycosidae). Trochanters deeply notched. Female pisaurids usually carry the egg sacs in the chelicerae and palps (cf Lycosidae).

History of changes