Anyphaenidae is a family of araneomorph spiders, sometimes called anyphaenid sac spiders or ghost spiders. They are distinguished from the sac spiders of the family Clubionidae and other spiders by having the abdominal spiracle placed one third to one half of the way anterior to the spinnerets toward the epigastric furrow on the underside of the abdomen. In most spiders the spiracle is just anterior to the spinnerets.
Like clubionids, anyphaenids have conical anterior spinnerets and are wandering predators that build silken retreats, or sacs, usually on plant terminals, between leaves, under bark or under rocks. There are more than 600 species in over 50 genera worldwide.
The family is widespread and includes such common genera as Anyphaena (worldwide except tropical Africa and Asia) and Hibana (New World). Only one species (A. accentuata) occurs in northwestern Europe.
Species in the latter genus are important predators in several agricultural systems, especially tree crops. They are able to detect and feed on insect eggs, despite their poor eyesight. They share this ability at least with some miturgid spiders.
Genera , this family includes 59 genera and 654 species:
Acanthoceto Mello-Leitão, 1944 – South America Aljassa Brescovit, 1997 – Colombia, Peru, Venezuela Amaurobioides O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1883 – Namibia, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile Anyphaena Sundevall, 1833 – North Africa, Europe to Central Asia, Asia, North America, Peru Anyphaenoides Berland, 1913 – Costa Rica, Panama, South America, Leeward Antilles Arachosia O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1882 – Cuba, Panama, Mexico, United States, South America Araiya Ramírez, 2003 – Argentina, Chile Australaena Berland, 1942 – French Polynesia Axyracrus Simon, 1884 – Argentina, Chile Aysenia Tullgren, 1902 – Argentina, Chile Aysenoides Ramírez, 2003 – Argentina, Chile Aysha Keyserling, 1891 – Panama, South America Bromelina Brescovit, 1993 – Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela Buckupiella Brescovit, 1997 – Argentina, Brazil Coptoprepes Simon, 1884 – Argentina, Chile Eldar Oliveira & Brescovit, 2025 – Brazil Ferrieria Tullgren, 1901 – Argentina, Chile Gamakia Ramírez, 2003 – Chile Gayenna Nicolet, 1849 – Mexico, South America Gayennoides Ramírez, 2003 – Chile Hatitia Brescovit, 1997 – South America Hibana Brescovit, 1991 – North America, South America, Ascension Islands Iguarima Brescovit, 1997 – Brazil, Ecuador Ilocomba Brescovit, 1997 – Colombia Isigonia Simon, 1897 – Panama, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela Italaman Brescovit, 1997 – Argentina, Brazil, Colombia Jessica Brescovit, 1997 – South America Josa Keyserling, 1891 – Costa Rica, South America Katissa Brescovit, 1997 – Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Lesser Antilles Lepajan Brescovit, 1993 – Panama, Ecuador Lupettiana Brescovit, 1997 – North America, Brazil Macrophyes O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1893 – Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, South America Mesilla Simon, 1903 – Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana Monapia Simon, 1897 – South America Negayan Ramírez, 2003 – Argentina, Chile, Peru, Falkland Islands Osoriella Mello-Leitão, 1922 – South America Otoniela Brescovit, 1997 – South America Oxysoma Nicolet, 1849 – Argentina, Brazil, Chile Patrera Simon, 1903 – Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, South America Phidyle Simon, 1880 – Chile Philisca Simon, 1884 – Argentina, Chile, Falkland Islands Pippuhana Brescovit, 1997 – Panama, Mexico, United States, Brazil Rathalos Lin & Li, 2022 – China Sanogasta Mello-Leitão, 1941 – South America. Introduced to Easter Islands Selknamia Ramírez, 2003 – Argentina, Chile Shuyushka Dupérré & Tapia, 2016 – Ecuador Sillus F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900 – Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Mexico, Brazil, French Guiana Sinophaena Lin & Li, 2021 – China Tafana Simon, 1903 – South America, Guayana Tasata Simon, 1903 – South America Temnida Simon, 1896 – South America Teudis O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896 – Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, South America Thaloe Brescovit, 1993 – Caribbean, US Virgin Islands Timbuka Brescovit, 1997 – Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador Tomopisthes Simon, 1884 – Argentina, Chile Umuara Brescovit, 1997 – Brazil, Peru, Venezuela Wulfila O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1895 – North America, Central America, South America Wulfilopsis Soares & Camargo, 1955 – Brazil Xiruana Brescovit, 1997 – South America
References
External links
Family Anyphaenidae Sac spiders, ghost spiders Video of Hibana, an anyphaenid from Florida