Family ZODARIIDAE Thorell, 1881
Ant Spiders
Compiler and date details
Valerie Todd Davies (including the Lycosidae by R.J. McKay), Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Introduction
Medium to large, 3-clawed hunting spiders, usually ground living. Six spinnerets, anterior long, median and posterior reduced. Serrula absent, or at least not seen at xS0 magnification. Promargin of chelicera with one or two teeth, retromargin none. Eight eyes, both rows usually strongly procurved. High clypeus. One row trichobothria on metatarsi and tarsi. Zodariids are widespread in Australia, occurring in both dry desert areas and in the rainforests of eastern Australia. They are often active during the day. Many are dark brown with a pattern of white or yellow spots or stripes.
Incertas sedis: The following genus is regarded as not belonging in Zodariidae, and cannot at present be placed in a family: Macedoniola Strand, 1932 (nom. nov. for Platycephala Butler, 1932), the type of which is lost.
Common Name References
Baehr, B. 2003. Revision of the Australian spider genus Habronestes (Araneae: Zodariidae). Species of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Records of the Australian Museum 55: 343-376 (Ant Spiders)