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 inhabit the intertidal zone. 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 and the family Toxopidae was separated from it. 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.
Mahura is a genus of South Pacific funnel weavers first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973 and known only from New Zealand. They are fairly common, though small spiders, ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 millimetres long.
Huka is a genus of South Pacific funnel weavers first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973.
Orepukia is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the family Cycloctenidae, known only from New Zealand. First described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973, it was originally placed in Agelenidae, but was transferred to Cycloctenidae in 2017. Their webs are built on the ground between fallen branches, logs, and other debris, and they are commonly found on the South Island, but hardly ever anywhere else. They range in size from 6 to 7.5 millimetres and lack a cribellum. Their eight eyes are in two rows, the anterior row straight and the other slightly curved. Their jaws are vertical and the labium is notched near the base.
Ahua is a genus of South Pacific funnel weavers first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973.
Muritaia is a genus of South Pacific tangled nest spiders first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973.
Aorangia is a genus of South Pacific sheetweb spiders first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973.
Makora is a genus of South Pacific intertidal spiders first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973.
Paramamoea is a genus of South Pacific intertidal spiders, first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973.
Reinga is a genus of South Pacific intertidal spiders first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973.
Neoramia is a genus of South Pacific sheetweb spiders first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973.
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.
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.
Nuisiana is a monotypic genus of South Pacific intertidal spiders containing the single species, Nuisiana arboris. It was first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973, and has only been found in New Zealand.
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.
Nanocambridgea is a monotypic genus of intertidal spiders containing the single species, Nanocambridgea gracilipes. It was first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973, and is found on New Zealand. Originally placed with the Stiphidiidae, it was moved to the Desidae after a 2017 genetic study. A male described as N. grandis in 2000 was synonymized with Cambridgea reinga in 2011.
Procambridgea is a genus of South Pacific sheetweb spiders that was first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973.
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.
Otira is a genus of South Pacific tangled nest spiders first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973.
Pakeha is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the family Cycloctenidae, first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973.
