OONOPIDAE Goblin spiders

Goblin spiders are generally tiny, some with hardened plates (scuta) on their abdomens that operate like a bivalve bellows, expanding when conditions are moist, contracting shut in dry times to conserve moisture. Oonopids usually have six eyes, the anterior median eyes having been lost. They are usually found in the litter layer and under rocks but they also live in the canopy of tropical rain forests. Oonopids occur as fossils in more amber deposits than any other spider family, probably because of their widespread distribution, small size and wandering behaviour. The Australian Oonopids are being revised by Barbara Baehr and others, as part of a large-scale review of the genus associated with a global review of the family Oonopidae.

Cavisternum ewani

Cavisternum ewani Baehr, Harvey & Smith, 2010 Ewan's Cavisternum
Male Cavisternum spp. are recognized by a concave sternum, as the generic name suggests. They also have elongated fangs with broadened tips. 

Cavisternum toadshow

Cavisternum toadshow Baehr, Harvey & Smith, 2010 Ewan's Cavisternum
This oonopid was found in north Qoeensland, west of Normanton on the Burketown-Normanton Road. C. toadshow has a long sternal concavity. The... 

Ischnothyreus

Ischnothyreus spp.

Myrmopopaea

Myrmopopaea sp Ant-loving Oonopid
This little Oonopid is an ant-like, ant-loving, or ant-eating spider, a species of Myrmopopaea. (Myrm means ant.) Opopaea is another genus in... 

Opopaea jonesae

Opopaea Jones Baehr, 2011 Jonesy's Opopaea
This species is found in leaf litter of rainforest in South East Queensland.The specific name is in honour of Anne Jones, Chair of Queensland Museum... 

Opopaea sown

Opopaea sown Baehr, 2011 SOWN's Opopaea
This species is found in leaf litter of rainforest in South East Queensland.The specific name is in honour of Save Our Waterways Now Inc (also known... 

Opopaea yukii

Opopaea yukii Baehr, 2012 (in press, manuscript name) Yuki's Opopaea
This small elongated Opopaea is common under bark in Lamington National Park.  

Orchestina

Orchestina spp.
Orchestina is a genus of very small Oonopid spiders with an enlarged femur on leg IV. The male is about .6mm, the female .8mm. They are relatively common in moist warm areas like sub-tropical rainforest. They are one spider in this family without a sclerotized scute on the abdomen (clam... 

Oonopid

Xestaspis sp Xestaspis, new species 2010
A small 6-eyed spider with a hinged, bellows like abdomen, orange brown to ochre coloured, shiny, with a domed cephalothorax. Body length subadult... 

 

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