| Dolomedidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Dolomedes fimbriatus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Dolomedidae Simon, 1876 [1] |
| Diversity | |
| 7 genera, 128 species | |
Dolomedidae is a family of spiders comprising seven genera formerly part of the family Pisauridae. It includes the genus Dolomedes , known commonly as raft spiders, and its close relatives.
The family was first circumscribed by Eugène Simon in 1876, but was later made synonymous with Pisauridae and Bradystichidae. It was restored to family level and redefined in 2025 based on a phylogenetic study of Pisauridae that found the family to be paraphyletic. [2] Morphologically, they differ from pisaurids in possessing a subterminal lateral apophysis below the fulcrum in males, and in females by possessing small, rounded accessory bulbs.
As of January 2025 [update] it contains 7 genera: [3]
Wolf spiders are members of the family Lycosidae, named for their robust and agile hunting skills and excellent eyesight. They live mostly in solitude, hunt alone, and usually do not spin webs. Some are opportunistic hunters, pouncing upon prey as they find it or chasing it over short distances; others wait for passing prey in or near the mouth of a burrow. Wolf spiders resemble nursery web spiders, but wolf spiders carry their egg sacs by attaching them to their spinnerets, while the Pisauridae carry their egg sacs with their chelicerae and pedipalps. Two of the wolf spider's eight eyes are large and prominent; this distinguishes them from nursery web spiders, whose eyes are all of roughly equal size. This can also help distinguish them from the similar-looking grass spiders.
Miturgidae is a family of araneomorph spiders that includes nearly 170 species in 29 genera worldwide. First described by Eugène Simon in 1886, it has been substantially revised, and includes the previous family Zoridae as a synonym, and excludes the family Xenoctenidae. Several genera have also been removed, such as the large genus Cheiracanthium, which was transferred to the Cheiracanthiidae.
Hexathelidae is a family of mygalomorph spiders. It is one of a number of families and genera of spiders known as tunnelweb or funnel-web spiders. In 2018, the family was substantially reduced in size by genera being moved to three separate families: Atracidae, Macrothelidae and Porrhothelidae.
Dolomedes is a genus of large spiders of the family Dolomedidae. They are also known as fishing spiders, raft spiders, dock spiders or wharf spiders. Almost all Dolomedes species are semiaquatic, with the exception of the tree-dwelling D. albineus of the southeastern United States. Many species have a striking pale stripe down each side of the body.
Psechridae is a family of araneomorph spiders with about 70 species in two genera. These are among the biggest cribellate spiders with body lengths up to 2 centimetres (0.79 in) and funnel webs more than 1 metre in diameter.
Barychelidae, also known as brushed trapdoor spiders, is a spider family with about 300 species in 39 genera.
Trechaleidae (tre-kah-LEE-ih-dee) is a family of araneomorph spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1890. It includes about 140 described species in 16 genera. They all live in Central and South America except for Shinobius orientalis, which is endemic to Japan. Other names for the family are longlegged water spiders and fishing spiders. The family Trechaleidae is closely related to Pisauridae and Lycosidae, and the three families are sometimes referred to as the lycosid group.
Anapidae is a family of rather small spiders with 233 described extant species in 59 genera. It includes the former family Micropholcommatidae as the subfamily Micropholcommatinae, and the former family Holarchaeidae. Most species are less than 2 millimetres (0.079 in) long.
Pisaura is a genus of Eurasian spiders in the family Pisauridae.
Dolomedes minor is a spider in the family Dolomedidae that is endemic to New Zealand, where it is known as the nursery web spider.
John (Jack) Burnett Venman was an Australian best known for deeding 254 acres of farming land to the Shire of Albert for A$1 in 1970. The land is now known as the Venman Bushland National Park. The park is located 40 km south of Brisbane CBD on West Mount Cotton Road, Mount Cotton, Queensland.
Dolomedes schauinslandi or the Rangatira spider is a large spider of the family Dolomedidae. It is only found on South East Island (Rangatira), Houruakopara and Mangere Islands in the Chatham Islands, New Zealand. It is one of New Zealand's largest and rarest spiders.
Bradystichus is a genus of New Caledonian spiders in the family Dolomedidae that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1884.
Dendrolycosa is a genus of nursery web spiders that was first described by Carl Ludwig Doleschall in 1859.
Caledomedes is a genus of spiders in the family Dolomedidae containing the single species, Caledomedes flavovittatus. It was first described by Robert J. Raven & W. Hebron in 2018, and is only found in New Caledonia.
Ornodolomedes is a genus of Australian spiders in the family Dolomedidae first described by Robert J. Raven & W. Hebron in 2018.
Tasmomedes is a genus of spiders in the family Dolomedidae containing the single species, Tasmomedes eberhardarum. It was first described by Robert J. Raven & W. Hebron in 2018, and is only found in Australia.
Anamidae is a family of Australian mygalomorph spiders. It was first described as a tribe by Simon in 1889, then raised to the subfamily Anaminae of the family Nemesiidae, before being raised to a family level by Opatova et al. in 2020.
Dolomedes venmani is a species of spider in the family Dolomedidae.