Intertidal spider

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.

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 (records exist from California, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida) and is considered an invasive species in Florida. It is feared that it could extirpate the native titanoecid species ''Titanoeca brunnea''.

Genera

, the World Spider Catalog accepts the following genera:

*'' Akatorea'' Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
*'' Amphinecta'' Simon, 1898 — New Zealand
*'' Austmusia'' Gray, 1983 — Australia
*''Badumna'' Thorell, 1890 — Oceania, Asia, North America, Uruguay
*'' Baiami'' Lehtinen, 1967 — Australia
*'' Bakala'' Davies, 1990 — Australia
*'' Barahna'' Davies, 2003 — Australia
*'' Buyina'' Davies, 1998 — Australia
*'' Calacadia'' Exline, 1960 — Chile
*'' Cambridgea'' L. Koch, 1872 — New Zealand
*''Canala'' Gray, 1992 — New Caledonia
*''Cicirra'' Simon, 1886 — Australia
*''Colcarteria'' Gray, 1992 — Australia
*''Corasoides'' Butler, 1929 — Papua New Guinea, Australia
*'' Cunnawarra'' Davies, 1998 — Australia
*'' Desis'' Walckenaer, 1837 — Africa, Ecuador, Asia, Oceania
*''Dunstanoides'' Forster & Wilton, 1989 — New Zealand
*''Epimecinus'' Simon, 1908 — Australia
*''Forsterina'' Lehtinen, 1967 — Australia
*'' Goyenia'' Forster, 1970 — New Zealand
*'' Helsonia'' Forster, 1970 — New Zealand
*''Holomamoea'' Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
*''Huara'' Forster, 1964 — New Zealand
*'' Ischalea'' L. Koch, 1872 — Madagascar, Mauritius, New Zealand
*''Jalkaraburra'' Davies, 1998 — Australia
*''Keera'' Davies, 1998 — Australia
*''Lathyarcha'' Simon, 1908 — Australia
*''Magua'' Davies, 1998 — Australia
*''Makora'' Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
*''Mamoea'' Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
*'' Mangareia'' Forster, 1970 — New Zealand
*''Maniho'' Marples, 1959 — New Zealand
*''Manjala'' Davies, 1990 — Australia
*'' Matachia'' Dalmas, 1917 — New Zealand
*''Mesudus'' Özdikmen, 2007 — New Zealand
*'' Metaltella'' Mello-Leitão, 1931 — South America, North America
*'' Namandia'' Lehtinen, 1967 — Australia
*'' Nanocambridgea'' Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
*''Neororea'' Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
*'' Notomatachia'' Forster, 1970 — New Zealand
*''Nuisiana'' Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
*''Oparara'' Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
*''Panoa'' Forster, 1970 — New Zealand
*''Paramamoea'' Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
*''Paramatachia'' Dalmas, 1918 — Australia
*'' Penaoola'' Davies, 1998 — Australia
*'' Phryganoporus'' Simon, 1908 — Australia
*'' Pitonga'' Davies, 1984 — Northern Australia
*'' Poaka'' Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
*'' Porteria'' Simon, 1904 — Chile
*''Quemusia'' Davies, 1998 — Australia
*'' Rangitata'' Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
*''Rapua'' Forster, 1970 — New Zealand
*'' Reinga'' Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
*''Rorea'' Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand
*'' Syrorisa'' Simon, 1908 — Australia
*'' Tanganoides'' Davies, 2005 — Australia
*''Taurongia'' Hogg, 1901 — Australia
*''Tuakana'' Forster, 1970 — New Zealand
*''Waterea'' Forster & Wilton, 1973 — New Zealand

See also

* List of Desidae species

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q10038

Araneomorphae families