Family ZORIDAE F.O.P.-Cambridge, 1893
Compiler and date details
Robert J Raven, Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Introduction
The Australian zorids are very diverse in drier habitats where their fast speed often ensures that only pitfall traps will secure useful adults. They are often well marked in the abdomen in carapace, many have tufts of hair on the abdomen.
Raven (2008) gives a family diagnosis and key to genera.
Diagnosis
Two claws and true claw tufts. Eyes of front row clearly smaller than those of back row; from above and in front, front row clearly recurved; from above back row strongly recurved; ALE small, from front upper edges not higher than lower edges of PME. 3–7 pairs of strong spines ventrally on tibiae I, II. Retrocoxal hymen present; pretarsal fracture absent; trochanters deeply notched. Strong paired spines on tibiae (2–7 pairs) and metatarsi (2 pairs) I, II. Scopula absent. Six spinnerets: ALS two segmented, coniform with domed tip; PLS with short domed apical segment. Male palp with RTA; cymbium often with retrolateral groove. Male palp with elongate RTA often with translucent vanes in three planes; cymbium boat-shaped, tapering to apical cone without dorsal scopula but most species with cluster of thick setae apically; cymbium commonly with deep retrolateral groove. C-shaped prolateral tegulum; median apophysis short, sinuous, base triangular narrows quickly, apex acuminate twisted, embolus long curved.
General References
Raven, R.J. 2008. Revisions of Australian ground-hunting spiders: III. Tucoctenus gen. nov. (Araneomorphae: Zoridae). Records of the Western Australian Museum 24: 351-361