Desidae
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. The vast majority of genera currently included in Desidae are native to Australia, New Zealand, or New Caledonia, although some are found in other parts of the world.
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.
Distribution
As now circumscribed, the family Desidae is mainly found in South America and Australasia, with some species reaching north to Malaysia.
Metaltella simoni has been introduced in a large part of the Southern United States. It is feared that it could extirpate the native titanoecid species Titanoeca brunnea.
Genera
, this family includes 63 genera and 323 species:Akatorea Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New ZealandAmphinecta Simon, 1898 – New ZealandAustmusia Gray, 1983 – AustraliaBadumna Thorell, 1890 – China, Indonesia, Australia. Introduced to South Africa, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Mexico, United States, New Zealand, Brazil, Uruguay, BritainBaiami Lehtinen, 1967 – AustraliaBakala Davies, 1990 – AustraliaBarahna Davies, 2003 – AustraliaBuyina Davies, 1998 – AustraliaCalacadia Exline, 1960 – ChileCambridgea L. Koch, 1872 – New Caledonia, New ZealandCanala Gray, 1992 – New CaledoniaCedicoides Charitonov, 1946 – Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, UzbekistanCedicus Simon, 1875 – Japan, Myanmar, Israel, Turkey, Eastern Mediterranean, HimalayasCicirra Simon, 1886 – AustraliaColcarteria Gray, 1992 – AustraliaCorasoides Butler, 1929 – Australia, Papua New GuineaCunnawarra Davies, 1998 – AustraliaDesis Walckenaer, 1837 – Eastern Africa, Namibia, South Africa, China, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, India, Australia, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Samoa, GalapagosDunstanoides Forster & Wilton, 1989 – New ZealandEpimecinus Simon, 1908 – Australia, New CaledoniaForsterina Lehtinen, 1967 – Australia, New CaledoniaGoyenia Forster, 1970 – New ZealandHelsonia Forster, 1970 – New ZealandHolomamoea Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New ZealandHuara Forster, 1964 – New ZealandIschalea L. Koch, 1872 – Madagascar, Mauritius, New ZealandJalkaraburra Davies, 1998 – AustraliaKeera Davies, 1998 – AustraliaLathyarcha Simon, 1908 – AustraliaMagua Davies, 1998 – AustraliaMakora Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New ZealandMamoea Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New ZealandMangareia Forster, 1970 – New ZealandManiho Marples, 1959 – New ZealandManjala Davies, 1990 – AustraliaMatachia Dalmas, 1917 – New ZealandMesudus Özdikmen, 2007 – New ZealandMetaltella Mello-Leitão, 1931 – South America. Introduced to North AmericaNamandia Lehtinen, 1967 – AustraliaNanocambridgea Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New ZealandNeororea Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New ZealandNotomatachia Forster, 1970 – New ZealandNuisiana Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New ZealandOparara Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New ZealandPanoa Forster, 1970 – New ZealandParacedicus Fet, 1993 – Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Western AsiaParamamoea Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New ZealandParamatachia Dalmas, 1918 – AustraliaPenaoola Davies, 1998 – AustraliaPhryganoporus Simon, 1908 – AustraliaPitonga Davies, 1984 – Northern AustraliaPoaka Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New ZealandPorteria Simon, 1904 – ChileQuemusia Davies, 1998 – AustraliaRangitata Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New ZealandRapua Forster, 1970 – New ZealandReinga Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New ZealandRorea Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New ZealandSyrorisa Simon, 1908 – Australia, New CaledoniaTanganoides Davies, 2005 – AustraliaTaurongia Hogg, 1901 – AustraliaTuakana Forster, 1970 – New ZealandWaterea Forster & Wilton, 1973 – New Zealand