Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Explanation of Names
The common name refers to their quickness and agility; lynx-like in nature.
Numbers
Family Oxyopidae Thorell, 1870
9 genera worldwide, 419 species.
WSC
3 genera, 19 species in North America:
Hamataliwa,
Oxyopes, and
Peucetia.
Size
Oxyopid body length ranges from 3-25mm.
Identification
Oxyopids are easily recognized by their high carapaces, distinctive eyes, numerous spines on their legs, and bright colors in some species. Some have cryptic coloration.
The carapace is longer than wide, high and angular or rounded with a wide, flattened
clypeus. The abdomen is usually oval shaped and tapers to a point.
Oxyopids have eight eyes.
Range
Primarily tropical and subtropical in distribution, but also in temperate zones.
In NA, most species are found in the southern states, although
O. salticus ranges into southern Canada.
Habitat
Primarily vegetation dwellers found on grasses, shrubs, and trees.
Some are terrestrial or arboreal by nature.
Food
Insects and spiders.
Oxyopids are duirnal and nocturnal hunters, and some species are active during both day and night.
They use their vision to detect and legs to catch prey, sometimes jumping up to 2cm into the air to catch insects in flight. Some lynx's also capture prey by jumping from a stationary location much like a Salticid.
Life Cycle
Some oxyopids may produce several egg sacs, while others only one. Lynx's are very protective of their egg sacs, guarding them avidly. Many will not eat while guarding eggs, and often die of starvation as a result.
Detailed research has been performed on the
maternal habits of the North American green lynx.
Remarks
A interesting member of
Tapinillus is a web building, social lynx spider.
Print References
The Lynx Spiders Of North America, North Of Mexico (Araneae: Oxyopidae)
By Allen R. Brady
Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Vol. 131, No. 13 Cambridge, Mass. September 30, 1964
The Lynx Spider Genus Hamataliwa in Mexico and Central America (Araneae: Oxyopidae)
By Allen R. Brady
Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Vol. 140, No. 3 Cambridge, Mass. August 6, 1970
Spiders of North America: An Identification Manual
By D. Ubick, P. Paquin, P.E. Cushing and V. Roth (eds)
American Arachnological Society, 2005
ISBN: 0-9771439-0-2
Southern African Spiders: An Identification Guide
By Martin R. Filmer
Struik Publishers
ISBN: 1 86825 188 8
An Introduction to the Spiders of South East Asia
By Frances and John Murphy
Malaysian Nature Society 2000
ISBN: 983 9681 17 6
The Spiders of China
By Song Daxiang, Zhu Mingsheng, and Chen Jun
Hebei Science and Technology Publishing House 1999
ISBN: 7 5375 1892 0
The Larousse Guide to Spiders
By Dick Jones
Larousse & Co., Inc. 1983
ISBN: 0 88332 324 9
The Spider Book
By John Henry Comstock
Fifth printing 1980 ISBN 0-8014-0084-8
The Spiders Of The United States
By Nicholas Marcellus Hentz, MD
Occasional Papers Of The Boston Society Of Natural History II 1875
