Family Scytodidae - Spitting Spiders

Classification · Numbers · Identification · Remarks · Print References

Nocturnal hunting spider found in Toronto - Scytodes thoracica

Male, Scytodes? - Scytodes univittata - male

Unknown spider- Possibly Family Scytodidae?? - Scytodes

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)

Class Arachnida (Arachnids)

Order Araneae (Spiders)

Infraorder Araneomorphae (True Spiders)

No Taxon (Synspermiata)

Family Scytodidae (Spitting Spiders)

Numbers

There are 241 species of scytodids in 4 genera. Two genera are found in the US:

Scytodes (221 species worldwide, 9 in the US): alayoi, atlacoya, dorothea (velutina), fusca, globula, longipes, thoracica, univittata, and zapatana.

Dictis (4 species worldwide, 1 in the US): striatipes

* All information as of 24 Apr 2022

Identification

Spitting spiders have 6 eyes and are slow moving. They are usually fairly easy to identify by their large round cephalothorax and their long, thin legs.

Front view Eye Arrangement

Refer to the Scytodes genus page for more specific ID guidance.

Remarks

Not dangerous.

Print References

~ Spiders of the Eastern US, A Photographic Guide. Pg. 73

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 12 April, 2004 - 6:21pm
Additional contributions by john and jane balaban, Lynette Elliott, chuuuuung
Last updated 25 April, 2022 - 1:11am

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