Desidae is a family of spiders, some of which are known as intertidal spiders. The family is named for the genus Desis, members of which live in a very unusual location — between the tides. The family has been reevaluated in recent years and now includes inland genera and species as well, such as Badumna and Phryganoporus. In 2017, the family Amphinectidae was merged into Desidae. The family Toxopidae has been separated off. Those intertidal spiders that are truly marine commonly live in barnacle shells, which they seal up with silk; this allows them to maintain an air bubble during high tide. They emerge at night to feed on various small arthropods that live in the intertidal zone.
Alistra is a genus of dwarf sheet spiders that was first described by Tamerlan Thorell in 1894.
Cycloctenus is a genus of Australasian araneomorph spiders in the family Cycloctenidae, first described by L. Koch in 1878. Originally placed with the nursery web spiders, it was transferred to the family Toxopidae because of the distinctive arrangement of its eyes, particularly the enlarged posterolateral eyes. It was moved to the Cycloctenidae in 1967.
Toxopsiella is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the family Cycloctenidae, and was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1964.
Gohia is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the family Toxopidae, and was first described by R. de Dalmas in 1917.
Hapona is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the family Toxopidae, and was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1970. Originally placed with the intertidal spiders, it was moved to the Toxopidae in 2017.
Hulua is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the family Toxopidae, and was first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973. Originally placed with the intertidal spiders, it was moved to the Toxopidae in 2017.
Matachia is a genus of South Pacific intertidal spiders that was first described by R. de Dalmas in 1917. Originally placed with the Psechridae, it was moved to the intertidal spiders in 1970.
Neomyro is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the family Toxopidae, and was first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973. As of May 2019 it contains only three species, all found in New Zealand: N. amplius, N. circe, and N. scitulus. Originally placed with the intertidal spiders, it was moved to the Toxopidae in 2017.
Notomatachia is a genus of South Pacific intertidal spiders that was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1970. As of May 2019 it contains only three species, all found in New Zealand:
Ommatauxesis is a monotypic genus of Australian araneomorph spiders in the family Toxopidae containing the single species, Ommatauxesis macrops. It was first described by Eugène Simon in 1903, and has only been found in Australia. Originally placed with the Cybaeidae, it was moved to the intertidal spiders in 1967, and to the Toxopidae in 2017.
Otagoa is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the family Toxopidae, and was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1970. As of May 2019 it contains only three species, all found in New Zealand: O. chathamensis, O. nova, and O. wiltoni.
Toxopsoides is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the family Toxopidae, and was first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973. Originally placed with the intertidal spiders, it was moved to the Toxopidae in 2017.
Kaitawa is a monotypic genus of South Pacific ground spiders containing the single species, Kaitawa insulare. It was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1979, who separated Cheiracanthium insulare from Cheiracanthium into this genus, retaining the species name. It has only been found in New Zealand.
Pholcomma is a genus of comb-footed spiders that was first described by Tamerlan Thorell in 1869.
Toxopidae is a small family of araneomorph spiders, first described in 1940. For many years it was sunk into Desidae as a subfamily, although doubts were expressed as to whether this was correct. A large-scale molecular phylogenetic study in 2016 led to the family being revived.
Myro is a genus of araneomorph spiders in the family Toxopidae, and was first described by O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1876. Originally placed with the Cybaeidae, it was moved to the intertidal spiders in 1967, and to the Toxopidae in 2017.
Lamina is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the family Toxopidae, and was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1970.
Laestrygones is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the family Toxopidae, and was first described by A. T. Urquhart in 1894.
