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.
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.
Cambridgea is a spider genus in the family Desidae and some of the first endemic spiders described from New Zealand. They are known for constructing large horizontal sheet webs measuring up to a square metre in larger species. Cambridgea were originally assigned to the Agelenidae by Dalmas in 1917 but were reassigned to the Stiphidiidae in 1973. Most recently, both Cambridgea and sister genus Nanocambridgea were reassigned to the Desidae, subfamily Porteriinae on the basis of molecular evidence.
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.
Waitetola is a genus of South Pacific tangled nest spiders containing the single species, Waitetola huttoni. It was first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973, and has only been found in New Zealand.
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.
Mamoea 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.
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.
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.
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.
Tararua is a genus of South Pacific funnel weavers first described by Raymond Robert Forster & C. L. Wilton in 1973.
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.
