Family HOLARCHAEIDAE Forster & Platnick, 1984
Compiler and date details
Valerie Todd Davies (including the Lycosidae by R.J. McKay), Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Introduction
Tiny, 3-clawed, entelegyne (only slight thickening of epigastric region) spiders with long chelicerae, the bases of which are encircled by the carapace. Viewed laterally, carapace triangular with highest area behind eyes. Anterior portion of carapace between eyes and chelicerae strongly swollen to form ridge projecting over base of chelicerae. Fang almost as long as chelicera. No peg teeth on chelicera. Anterior spiracles with trachea to abdomen; no posterior spiracle. Linguiform colulus present. One trichobothrium on metatarsi, none on tarsi. Female palp without claw. Male palpal cymbium without processes. Tarsi longer than metatarsi; tarsi I and II swollen with a clump of hairs distally. Holarchaea has so far been recorded only from moss in dense Tasmanian rainforest.
Diagnosis
Although superficially similar to the Archaeidae in the possession of long chelicerae, the much smaller Holarchaeidae can be recognised by the presence of a non-elevated carapace.