Stiphidiidae

"Sheetweb spider" redirects here. For sheet weavers, see Linyphiidae.

Stiphidiidae, also called sheetweb spiders, is a family of araneomorph spiders first described in 1917.^[1] Most species are medium size (Stiphidion facetum is about 8 millimetres (0.31 in) long) and speckled brown with long legs. All members of this family occur in New Zealand and Australia except for Asmea.^[2] They build a horizontal sheet-like web under rocks, hence the name "sheetweb spiders".

Sheetweb spiders
Stiphidion facetum
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Stiphidiidae Dalmas, 1917
Diversity
20 genera, 126 species

The largest of New Zealand's species is Cambridgea foliata, with a body length up to 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) and a span of up to 15 centimetres (5.9 in). Hikers and trampers often find their sheet-like webs that can be up to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) across, but the spider itself is nocturnal, spending the day time inside its web tunnel.^[3] It can also be found in gardens and males may enter human homes. Their large size, including mouth parts up to 1 centimetre (0.39 in) long, may be intimidating, but it is considered harmless to humans and bites are extremely rare.

Genera

Main article: List of Stiphidiidae species

As of April 2019^[update], the World Spider Catalog accepts the following genera:^[2]

Tartarus mullamullangensis and sheet web

Cambridgea foliata

• Aorangia Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
• Asmea Gray & Smith, 2008 — Papua New Guinea
• Borrala Gray & Smith, 2004 — Australia
• Carbinea Davies, 1999 — Australia
• Couranga Gray & Smith, 2008 — Australia
• Elleguna Gray & Smith, 2008 — Australia
• Jamberoo Gray & Smith, 2008 — Australia
• Kababina Davies, 1995 — Australia
• Karriella Gray & Smith, 2008 — Australia
• Malarina Davies & Lambkin, 2000 — Australia
• Marplesia Lehtinen, 1967 — New Zealand
• Neolana Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
• Neoramia Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
• Pillara Gray & Smith, 2004 — Australia
• Procambridgea Forster & Wilton, 1973 — Australia, New Zealand
• Stiphidion Simon, 1902 — Australia, New Zealand
• Tartarus Gray, 1973 — Australia
• Therlinya Gray & Smith, 2002 — Australia
• Tjurunga Lehtinen, 1967 — Australia
• Wabua Davies, 2000 — Australia

See also

• List of Stiphidiidae species