Orb-weaver spiders are members of the spider family Araneidae. They are the most common group of builders of spiral wheel-shaped webs often found in gardens, fields, and forests. The English word "orb" can mean "circular", hence the English name of the group. Araneids have eight similar eyes, hairy or spiny legs, and no stridulating organs.
Long-jawed orb weavers or long jawed spiders (Tetragnathidae) are a family of araneomorph spiders first described by Anton Menge in 1866. They have elongated bodies, legs, and chelicerae, and build small orb webs with an open hub with few, wide-set radii and spirals with no signal line or retreat. Some species are often found in long vegetation near water.
Leucauge is a spider genus of long-jawed orb weavers, with over 160 species and fully pantropical distribution.
Nephilengys is a genus of tropical spiders of the family Nephilidae, consisting of two currently described species. The genus Nephilingis has been split off from this genus. Both genera have been called hermit spiders from the habit staying in their retreats during the day; the name eunuch spiders has been used for Nephilengys alone. Males may sever parts of their palpal bulbs after copulation.
Chorizopes is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1871. Though it belongs to the orb weaver family, these spiders move through leaf litter preying on other spiders rather than spinning webs. The original name was "Chorizoopes", but the emendationChorizopes by Tamerlan Thorell is now protected by usage.
Dolichognatha is a genus of tropical and subtropical long-jawed orb-weavers that was first described by Octavius Pickard-Cambridge in 1869. Originally placed with the Archaeidae, it was transferred to the Araneidae in 1967, and to the Tetragnathidae in 1981.
Taraire is a small genus of Polynesian long-jawed orb-weavers. The genus was first described by A. Álvarez-Padilla, R. J. Kallal and Gustavo Hormiga in 2020, and it has only been found in New Zealand. They build vertical orb webs near forest floors, and can be found resting in the center. The genus name is a reference to Beilschmiedia tarairi, the native New Zealand tree that they are commonly found in.
Phonognatha is a genus of South Pacific orb-weaver spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1895. It was originally placed with the long-jawed orb weavers, and was moved to Araneidae in 2008.
Glenognatha is a genus of long-jawed orb-weavers that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1887. It was considerably revised in 2016.
Tylorida is a genus of long-jawed orb-weavers that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1894.
Nanningia is a monotypic genus of Chinese long-jawed orb-weavers containing the single species, Nanningia zhangi. It was first described by M. S. Zhu, J. P. Kim & D. X. Song in 1997, and has only been found in China.
Nanometa is a genus of long-jawed orb-weavers containing the fifteen species. It was erected by Eugène Louis Simon based on the type specimen of Nanometa gentilis found in 1908. It is included in a clade of its own defined by nine morphological synapomorphies, along with the genus Orsinome.
Orsinome is a genus of long-jawed orb-weavers that was first described by Tamerlan Thorell in 1890. It is included in the Nanometa clade, defined by nine morphological synapomorphies, along with Eryciniolia and Nanometa.
Wolongia is a genus of Asian long-jawed orb-weavers that was first described by M. S. Zhu, J. P. Kim & D. X. Song in 1997.
Artifex melanopyga, synonym Phonognatha melanopyga, referred to as a leaf curling spider, is a common Australian spider found in moist coastal areas of New South Wales and Queensland. A small member of the family Araneidae, the orb-weavers, it was previously placed in Tetragnathidae.
Artifex is a small genus of orb-weaver spiders native to tropical regions of mainland Australia and to New Caledonia. The genus was erected by R. J. Kallal and Gustavo Hormiga in 2018 to contain two species moved from different genera that have several synapomorphies, including an abdomen that extends past the spinnerets, widely separated spermathecae, and dorsal markings similar to those of Zygiellinae. The name is a combination of the Latin "ars", meaning "art", and "-fex", meaning "maker" in reference to the shelters they build out of leaves.
Harlanethis is a small genus of Australian long-jawed orb-weavers. It was first described by A. Álvarez-Padilla, R. J. Kallal and Gustavo Hormiga in 2020, and it has only been found in Australia. As of April 2022 it contains only two species: H. lipscombae and H. weintrauborum.
Iamarra is a monotypic genus of Australian long-jawed orb-weavers containing the single species, Iamarra multitheca. It was first described by A. Álvarez-Padilla, R. J. Kallal and Gustavo Hormiga in 2020, and it has only been found in Australia.
Tawhai is a monotypic genus of Polynesian long-jawed orb-weavers containing the single species Tawhai arborea. The genus was first described by A. Álvarez-Padilla, R. J. Kallal and Gustavo Hormiga in 2020, and it has only been found in New Zealand. The type species, Tawhai arborea, was originally described under the name "Tetragnatha arborea".
