Family THERIDIOSOMATIDAE Simon, 1881
Compiler and date details
Valerie Todd Davies (including the Lycosidae by R.J. McKay), Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Introduction
The 'ray' spiders, tiny to small, 3-clawed spiders with spherical abdomen. Anterior sternal indentations on either side of labium. Sternum broadly truncate posteriorly. Female palp without a claw. Small orb-webs are made with few radials and spirals. From the centre of the orb a horizontal thread runs to a point of attachment. The spiders rest, back to the web, on this; as it shortens this thread, the web is pulled into a cone shape and when prey touches the web the thread is released and the web springs forwards and straightens with the spider in its centre.
Diagnosis
Theridiosomatids can be distinguished by the pair of ovoid depressions on the anterior margin of the sternum.