Ground spiders comprise Gnaphosidae, the seventh largest spider family with nearly 2,000 described species in over 100 genera distributed worldwide. There are 105 species known to central Europe, and common genera include Gnaphosa, Drassodes, Micaria, Cesonia, Zelotes and many others. They are closely related to Clubionidae. At present, no ground spiders are known to be seriously venomous to humans.
Huttonia is a monotypic genus of ecribellate South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the Huttoniidae family containing the single species, Huttonia palpimanoides. Although only one species is described, there are still about twenty more undescribed species.
Gradungulidae, also known as large-clawed spiders, is a spider family endemic to Australia and New Zealand. They are medium to large-sized haplogyne spiders with three claws and two pairs of book-lungs similar to Mygalomorphae. Some species build extensive webs with an upper retreat tangle and connecting threads to scaffolding. This supports the ladder-like catching platform that is glued to the ground. Progradungula, a large spider with long legs like Hickmania, and Macrogradungula are the only cribellate genera of the family.
Periegops is a genus of spiders with six eyes instead of the usual eight.It is the only genus in its family (Periegopidae) and has three described species. It was long considered to be members of Sicariidae or Segestriidae until Raymond Forster elevated them to the family level in 1995.
Orsolobidae is a six-eyed spider family with about 180 described species in thirty genera. It was first described by J. A. L. Cooke in 1965, and was raised to family status from "Dysderidae" in 1985.
Malkaridae is a small family of araneomorph spiders first described by V. T. Davies in 1980. In 2017, the family Pararchaeidae was brought into synonymy with Malkaridae.
Stiphidiidae, also called sheetweb spiders, is a family of araneomorph spiders first described in 1917, Most species are medium size and speckled brown with long legs. All members of this family occur in New Zealand and Australia except for Asmea. They build a horizontal sheet-like web under rocks, hence the name "sheetweb spiders".
Cycloctenidae is a family of spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1898.
Porrhothele is a genus of South Pacific mygalomorph spiders in the Porrhothelidae family, and was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1892. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980, then to its own family in 2018.
Cantuaria is a genus of South Pacific armored trapdoor spiders that was first described by Henry Roughton Hogg in 1902. From 1985 to 2006 it was merged with former genus Misgolas, now Arbanitis.
Toxopsiella is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the Cycloctenidae family, and was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1964.
Kapanga is a genus of South Pacific dwarf sheet spiders that was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1970.
Colaranea is a genus of orb-weaver spiders first described by D. J. Court & Raymond Robert Forster in 1988 that are endemic to New Zealand.
Hypodrassodes is a genus of South Pacific ground spiders that was first described by R. de Dalmas in 1919.
Intruda is a monotypic genus of South Pacific ground spiders containing the single species, Intruda signata. It was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1979, and has only been found in Australia and in New Zealand.
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.
Zelanda is a genus of South Pacific ground spiders that was first described by H. Özdikmen in 2009.
Physoglenidae is a family of araneomorph spiders first described by Alexander Petrunkevitch in 1928 as a subfamily of Pholcidae. It was later moved to Synotaxidae until a study in 2016 showed that they formed a distinct clade.
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.
Matua is a genus of South Pacific ground spiders that was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1979. As of May 2019 it contains only two species, both found in New Zealand: M. festiva and M. valida.
