Anyphaenidae
Anyphaenidae is a family of araneomorph spiders, sometimes called anyphaenid sac spiders or ghost spiders. They are distinguished from the sac spiders of the family Clubionidae and other spiders by having the abdominal spiracle placed one third to one half of the way anterior to the spinnerets toward the epigastric furrow on the underside of the abdomen. In most spiders the spiracle is just anterior to the spinnerets.
Like clubionids, anyphaenids have conical anterior spinnerets and are wandering predators that build silken retreats, or sacs, usually on plant terminals, between leaves, under bark or under rocks. There are more than 600 species in over 50 genera worldwide.
The family is widespread and includes such common genera as Anyphaena and Hibana. Only one species occurs in northwestern Europe.
Species in the latter genus are important predators in several agricultural systems, especially tree crops. They are able to detect and feed on insect eggs, despite their poor eyesight. They share this ability at least with some miturgid spiders.
Genera
, this family includes 59 genera and 654 species:Acanthoceto Mello-Leitão, 1944 – South AmericaAljassa Brescovit, 1997 – Colombia, Peru, VenezuelaAmaurobioides O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1883 – Namibia, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, ChileAnyphaena Sundevall, 1833 – North Africa, Europe to Central Asia, Asia, North America, PeruAnyphaenoides Berland, 1913 – Costa Rica, Panama, South America, Leeward AntillesArachosia O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1882 – Cuba, Panama, Mexico, United States, South AmericaAraiya Ramírez, 2003 – Argentina, ChileAustralaena Berland, 1942 – French PolynesiaAxyracrus Simon, 1884 – Argentina, ChileAysenia Tullgren, 1902 – Argentina, ChileAysenoides Ramírez, 2003 – Argentina, ChileAysha Keyserling, 1891 – Panama, South AmericaBromelina Brescovit, 1993 – Brazil, Colombia, VenezuelaBuckupiella Brescovit, 1997 – Argentina, BrazilCoptoprepes Simon, 1884 – Argentina, ChileEldar Oliveira & Brescovit, 2025 – BrazilFerrieria Tullgren, 1901 – Argentina, ChileGamakia Ramírez, 2003 – ChileGayenna Nicolet, 1849 – Mexico, South AmericaGayennoides Ramírez, 2003 – ChileHatitia Brescovit, 1997 – South AmericaHibana Brescovit, 1991 – North America, South America, Ascension IslandsIguarima Brescovit, 1997 – Brazil, EcuadorIlocomba Brescovit, 1997 – ColombiaIsigonia Simon, 1897 – Panama, Brazil, Peru, VenezuelaItalaman Brescovit, 1997 – Argentina, Brazil, ColombiaJessica Brescovit, 1997 – South AmericaJosa Keyserling, 1891 – Costa Rica, South AmericaKatissa Brescovit, 1997 – Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Lesser AntillesLepajan Brescovit, 1993 – Panama, EcuadorLupettiana Brescovit, 1997 – North America, BrazilMacrophyes O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1893 – Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, South AmericaMesilla Simon, 1903 – Colombia, Ecuador, French GuianaMonapia Simon, 1897 – South AmericaNegayan Ramírez, 2003 – Argentina, Chile, Peru, Falkland IslandsOsoriella Mello-Leitão, 1922 – South AmericaOtoniela Brescovit, 1997 – South AmericaOxysoma Nicolet, 1849 – Argentina, Brazil, ChilePatrera Simon, 1903 – Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, South AmericaPhidyle Simon, 1880 – ChilePhilisca Simon, 1884 – Argentina, Chile, Falkland IslandsPippuhana Brescovit, 1997 – Panama, Mexico, United States, BrazilRathalos Lin & Li, 2022 – ChinaSanogasta Mello-Leitão, 1941 – South America. Introduced to Easter IslandsSelknamia Ramírez, 2003 – Argentina, ChileShuyushka Dupérré & Tapia, 2016 – EcuadorSillus F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900 – Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Mexico, Brazil, French GuianaSinophaena Lin & Li, 2021 – ChinaTafana Simon, 1903 – South America, GuayanaTasata Simon, 1903 – South AmericaTemnida Simon, 1896 – South AmericaTeudis O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1896 – Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, South AmericaThaloe Brescovit, 1993 – Caribbean, US Virgin IslandsTimbuka Brescovit, 1997 – Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia, EcuadorTomopisthes Simon, 1884 – Argentina, ChileUmuara Brescovit, 1997 – Brazil, Peru, VenezuelaWulfila O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1895 – North America, Central America, South AmericaWulfilopsis Soares & Camargo, 1955 – BrazilXiruana Brescovit, 1997 – South America