Family ULOBORIDAE Thorell, 1869
Compiler and date details
Valerie Todd Davies (including the Lycosidae by R.J. McKay), Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Introduction
Small to medium sized, 3-clawed, cribellate spiders. Trichobothria in prolateral row on femora Il-IV; two rows on tibiae, one trichobothrium on metatarsi, none on tarsi. Posterior tracheal spiracle with tracheae extending to cephalothorax. No venom glands. Ventral row of erect macrosetae on distal 1/2-1/3 of metatarsus IV and most of tarsus IV. Prolateral metatarsal concavity adjacent to calamistrum. Broad retrolateral patellar notches. Two apical cymbial setae on male palp. Uloborids are weavers of geometric orbs or webs derived from an orb.
Diagnosis
Uloborids can be distinguished from all other spiders by the combined presence of trichobothria on femora II and III, and a cribellum and calamistrum.The Uloboridae are considered to be the sister-group to the net-casting Deinopidae. Uloborines are found over much of the Australian region; they construct orb-webs, especially under rock overhangs and against tree trunks. Some species are found in and around houses and other human dwellings.