Symphytognathidae

Symphytognathidae is a family of spiders with 90^[1] described species in eight genera. Most species inhabit the New World tropics and Oceania.^[2]

Dwarf orb-weavers
male Crassignatha quadriventris
female Crassignatha danaugirangensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Symphytognathidae Hickman, 1931
Diversity
10 genera, c. 70 species

The species Patu digua is considered to be one of the smallest spiders in the world with a body size of 0.37 millimetres (0.015 in).^[3]

Distribution

Spiders in this family occur in the tropics of Central and South America and the Australian region (with Oceania).^[2]

Exceptions include some Anapistula species, with A. benoiti and A. caecula found in Africa, A. ishikawai found in Japan, and A. jerai found in Southeast Asia. Symphytognatha imbulunga is also found in Africa. ^[2]

Morphology

Symphytognathidae are four, six or eight-eyed spiders and are generally small in size. The opisthosoma is covered in long hairs.^[4]

Genera

Main article: List of Symphytognathidae species

As of October 2025^[update], this family includes ten genera:^[2]

• Anapistula Gertsch, 1941 – Africa, Asia, Portugal, Spain, Mexico to South America, Australia, Tonga
• Anapogonia Simon, 1905 – Indonesia
• Crassignatha Wunderlich, 1995 – Asia
• Curimagua Forster & Platnick, 1977 – Panama, Venezuela
• Globignatha Balogh & Loksa, 1968 – Belize, Brazil
• Iardinis Simon, 1899 – India, Nepal
• Kirinua S. Q. Li & Lin, 2021 – China
• Patu Marples, 1951 – Asia, Oceania, Colombia
• Swilda S. Q. Li & Lin, 2021 – China
• Symphytognatha Hickman, 1931 – South Africa, China, Mexico to Brazil, Australia, New Guinea