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.
The rusty-spotted genet, also called panther genet and large-spotted genet, is a genet that is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa. It is considered common and therefore listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Nemesiidae is a family of mygalomorph spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1889, and raised to family status in 1985. Before becoming its own family, it was considered part of "Dipluridae". The family is sometimes referred to as wishbone spiders due to the shape of their burrows.
Neoscona, known as spotted orb-weavers and barn spiders, is a genus of orb-weaver spiders (Araneidae) first described by Eugène Simon in 1895 to separate these from other araneids in the now obsolete genus Epeira. The name Neoscona was derived from the Greek νέω, meaning "spin", and σχοῖνος, meaning "reed" They have a mostly pantropical distribution and one species, Neoscona adianta, has a palearctic distribution. As of April 2019 there are eight species that can be found in the United States and Canada:
Larinia is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1874.
Caerostris, sometimes called bark spiders, is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by Tamerlan Thorell in 1868. Most species are found in south eastern Africa and neighboring Madagascar.
Eriovixia is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by Allan Frost Archer in 1951.
Faradja is a genus of Central African orb-weaver spiders containing the single species, Faradja faradjensis. It was first described by M. Grasshoff in 1970, and has only been found in Middle Africa.
Kilima is a genus of African orb-weaver spiders first described by M. Grasshoff in 1970. As of April 2019 it contains only three species.
Lariniaria is a genus of Asian orb-weaver spiders containing the single species, Lariniaria argiopiformis. It was first described by M. Grasshoff in 1970, and has only been found in Russia, China, Korea, and Japan.
Madacantha is a genus of East African orb-weaver spiders containing the single species, Madacantha nossibeana. It was first described by M. Emerit in 1970, and has only been found in Madagascar.
Megaraneus is a genus of African orb-weaver spiders containing the single species, Megaraneus gabonensis. It was first described by R. F. Lawrence in 1968, to contain the single species originally published under the name Epeira gabonensis.
Paralarinia is a genus of African orb-weaver spiders first described by M. Grasshoff in 1970.
Prasonica is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1895.
Prasonicella is a genus of East African orb-weaver spiders first described by M. Grasshoff in 1971. As of April 2019 it contains only two species.
Umbonata is a genus of Tanzanian orb-weaver spiders containing the single species, Umbonata spinosissima. It was first described by M. Grasshoff in 1971 to contain the single species moved from Mangora.
Wanda Wesołowska is a Polish zoologist known for her work with jumping spiders. She has described more species of jumping spider than any contemporary writer, and is second only to Eugène Simon in the history of arachnology. Originally a student of ornithology, she developed an interest in jumping spiders while still a student at the Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in the 1970s.
Machadocara is a genus of African dwarf spiders that was first described by F. Miller in 1970. As of May 2019 it contains only two species, both found in Middle Africa and Zambia: M. dubia and M. gongylioides.
Siwa is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by M. Grasshoff in 1970. As of April 2019 it contains only two species.
Prasonica plagiata is a species of Araneidae that is endemic to New Zealand.
