Desis species are, in every practical way, marine spiders. This does not mean they are aquatic, or free-living under water, but their habitat is marine. They live in the intertidal zone, hunting by night at low tide. At high tides and by day they hide in silk-sealed air chambers. Their prey is marine, being a range of marine arthropods, including shrimps.
Male from above
![Desis](../_dbase_upl/desis001.jpg)
Male palps
![Desis](../_dbase_upl/Desis_sp_male_Cairns_-on-brain-coral_palp.jpg)
Female from above
![Desis](../_dbase_upl/Desis_sp_female_Cairns_-on-brain-coral.jpg)
Female from side with epigyne
![Desis](../_dbase_upl/Desis_sp_female_Cairns_-on-brain-coral_lateral.jpg)