spider families

family name

Agelenidae (funnel weavers)

(key: pointy long spinnerets, 8 smiley face eyes, funnel webs)

family name

Amaurobiidae (hackledmesh weavers)

(key: usually 8 smiley face eyes, cribellate, divided cribellum,

family name

Anyphaenidae (ghost spiders)

(key: usually white / light colored, 8 smiley face eyes, precoxal triangles + tracheal spiracle anterior of the spinnerets)

family name

Araneidae (orb weavers)

(key: vertical web, 8 blush eyes, square-shaped endites)

family name

Corinnidae (ant-like mimics)

(key: 8 eyes in 2 rows, precoxal triangles, ant-like behavior)

family name

Dictynidae (mesh weavers)

(key: 6 or 8 smiley face eyes, mesh web in leaf litter)

family name

Gnaphosidae

(key: 8 eyes in 2 rows, irregular shaped eyes, large cylindrical spinnerets)

family name

Hahniidae

(key: mostly 8 eyes in blush shape, sometimes widely spaced spinnerets, sheet webs)

family name

Linyphiidae (sheetweavers)

(key: 8 eyes in blush shape, sheet webs)

family name

Lycosidae (wolf spiders)

(key: 8 eyes in 3 rows, large posterior median eyes, line converges at front, egg sacs in spinnerets)

family name

Mimetidae (pirate spiders)

(key: 8 eyes in football shape, spines on legs)

family name

Cheiracanthiidae

(key: 8 eyes in smiley face shape, bottom row straight, precoxal triangles, vampire fangs)

family name

Oxyopidae (lynx spider)

(key: hexagon eyes, spines on legs, three tarsal claws)

family name

Pholcidae (cellar spider)

(key: 6 or 8 eyes in triads, long legs, egg sac in chelicerae, web-building)

family name

Philodromidae (running crab spiders)

(key: 8 eyes in BIG smiley face, crab-looking / laterigrade, longest is leg II)

family name

Pisauridae (nursery web/fishing)

(2 rows of 8 eyes in pisces shape, lines converge on prosoma, egg sacs under prosoma, nursery web)

family name

Salticidae (jumping spider)

(key: 8 eyes in U shape, big anterior median eyes)

family name

Tetragnathidae (long-jaw)

(key: 8 eyes in 2 wide rows, horizontal orb web, open hub, long endites)

family name

Thomisidae (crab spider)

(key: laterigrade legs, thick + long legs I and II, 8 eyes in 2 wide rows)

family name

Uloboridae (hackled orbweaver

(key: cribellate, triangle-shaped orb web / orb web / capture web, bumpy)