Oonopidae

Family of spiders

Goblin spiders

Temporal range: Albian–present

PreꞒ

Tapinesthis inermis, female
Scientific classification
Domain:  | Eukaryota
Kingdom:  | Animalia
Phylum:  | Arthropoda
Subphylum:  | Chelicerata
Class:  | Arachnida
Order:  | Araneae
Infraorder:  | Araneomorphae
Family:  | Oonopidae
Simon, 1890
Diversity
115 genera, 1874 species

Oonopidae, also known as goblin spiders, is a family of spiders consisting of over 1,600 described species in about 113 genera worldwide,[1] with total species diversity estimated at 2000 to 2500 species.[2] The type genus of the family is Oonops Keyserling, 1835.

Goblin spiders are generally tiny, measuring about 1 to 3 millimeters. Some have scuta, hardened plates on their abdomens. Oonopids usually have six eyes, the anterior median eyes having been lost. However, four-eyed (Opopaea viamao), two-eyed (e.g. Coxapopha, Diblemma) and even completely eyeless species (e.g. Cousinea, the cave-dwelling Blanioonops) are also known. The family is permeated with unusual morphological traits, many of which are limited to males. Examples include heavily modified mouthparts (e.g. Coxapopha, Xyccarph), sternal pouches (sometimes alternatively called holsters; e.g. Grymeus) and extensions of the carapace (e.g. Ferchestina, Unicorn). The male pedipalps are also often highly modified. The genus Opopaea, for example, exhibits an expanded palpal patella while male Ischnothyreus are characterized by completely sclerotized, pitch-black pedipalps. Members of the genus Orchestina are believed to be able to jump, as both sexes have greatly enlarged femora on the fourth leg pair.

Oonopidae are seldom seen by people as they are too small to be easily noticed. They are generally found in the leaf litter layer and under rocks, but they also constitute a significant component of the spider fauna living in the canopy of tropical rainforest. Three blind Afrotropical genera (Anophthalmoonops, Caecoonops, Termitoonops) are exclusively found in termite nests. A few species, such as the pantropical Heteroonops spinimanus and Triaeris stenaspis, are thought to be parthenogenetic as no males have yet been collected.

## Fossil record[edit]

Oonopidae are frequently encountered as subfossils preserved in copals and as fossils preserved in amber. Oonopids even occur in more amber deposits than any other spider family, which may be accounted for by their widespread distribution, small size, and wandering behaviour, as amber appears to be biased towards trapping such spiders. In contrast, sedimentary fossils of Oonopidae are unknown.

Most fossil oonopids described from amber are assigned to the extant genus Orchestina. This genus was already widespread by the end of the Cretaceous, as indicated by specimens found in amber dating back over 100 million years.

## Genera[edit]

Main article: List of Oonopidae species

As of April 2019[update], the World Spider Catalog accepts the following genera:[1]

* Amazoonops Ott, Ruiz, Brescovit & Bonaldo, 2017
* Anophthalmoonops Benoit, 1976 — Angola
* Antoonops Fannes & Jocqué, 2008 — Africa
* Aposphragisma Thoma, 2014 — Asia
* Aprusia Simon, 1893 — Sri Lanka, India
* Aschnaoonops Makhan & Ezzatpanah, 2011 — Suriname, Colombia, Trinidad
* Australoonops Hewitt, 1915 — South Africa, Mozambique
* Bannana Tong & Li, 2015 — China
* Bidysderina Platnick, Dupérré, Berniker & Bonaldo, 2013
* Bipoonops Bolzern, 2014 — Ecuador
* Birabenella Grismado, 2010 — Argentina, Chile
* Blanioonops Simon & Fage, 1922 — East Africa
* Brignolia Dumitrescu & Georgescu, 1983 — Asia, Africa, Australia
* Caecoonops Benoit, 1964 — Congo
* Camptoscaphiella Caporiacco, 1934 — Asia
* Cavisternum Baehr, Harvey & Smith, 2010 — Australia, Sri Lanka
* Cortestina Knoflach, 2009 — Austria, Italy
* Costarina Platnick & Dupérré, 2011 — Central America, Colombia, Mexico
* Cousinea Saaristo, 2001 — Seychelles
* Coxapopha Platnick, 2000 — South America, Panama
* Dalmasula Platnick, Szüts & Ubick, 2012 — South Africa, Namibia
* Diblemma O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1908 — Seychelles
* Dysderina Simon, 1892 — Asia, Africa, South America
* Dysderoides Fage, 1946 — Thailand, India
* Emboonops Bolzern, Platnick & Berniker, 2015 — Mexico
* Escaphiella Platnick & Dupérré, 2009 — North America, South America, Central America, Jamaica
* Farqua Saaristo, 2001 — Seychelles
* Gamasomorpha Karsch, 1881 — Asia, Africa, South America, Oceania, North America, Panama, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
* Gradunguloonops Grismado, Izquierdo, González M. & Ramírez, 2015
* Grymeus Harvey, 1987 — Australia, Sri Lanka
* Guaraguaoonops Brescovit, Rheims & Bonaldo, 2012
* Guatemoonops Bolzern, Platnick & Berniker, 2015
* Heteroonops Dalmas, 1916 — Caribbean, Costa Rica, Mexico, Germany, Africa, Australia
* Hexapopha Platnick, Berniker & Víquez, 2014 — Costa Rica
* Himalayana Grismado, 2014 — India, Nepal
* Hortoonops Platnick & Dupérré, 2012 —
* Hypnoonops Benoit, 1977 — Congo
* Hytanis Simon, 1893 — Venezuela
* Ischnothyreus Simon, 1893 — Asia, Oceania, Africa, Europe
* Kachinia Tong & Li, 2018 — Myanmar
* Kapitia Forster, 1956 — New Zealand
* Khamiscar Platnick & Berniker, 2015 — Madagascar
* Khamisia Saaristo & van Harten, 2006 — Israel, Yemen, Kenya
* Khamisina Platnick & Berniker, 2015 — Nigeria, Kenya, Congo
* Khamisoides Platnick & Berniker, 2015 — Virgin Is.
* Kijabe Berland, 1914 — Kenya
* Lionneta Benoit, 1979 — Seychelles
* Longoonops Platnick & Dupérré, 2010 — Central America, Jamaica
* Lucetia Dumitrescu & Georgescu, 1983 — Cuba, Venezuela
* Malagiella Ubick & Griswold, 2011 — Madagascar
* Megabulbus Saaristo, 2007 — Israel
* Megaoonops Saaristo, 2007 — Israel
* Melchisedec Fannes, 2010 — Niger
* Molotra Ubick & Griswold, 2011 — Madagascar
* Neotrops Grismado & Ramírez, 2013 — South America, Panama, Trinidad
* Neoxyphinus Birabén, 1953 — South America, Caribbean
* Nephrochirus Simon, 1910 — Namibia
* Niarchos Platnick & Dupérré, 2010 — Ecuador, Colombia, Peru
* Noideattella Álvarez-Padilla, Ubick & Griswold, 2012 — Madagascar, Seychelles
* Noonops Platnick & Berniker, 2013 — Mexico, United States
* Oonopinus Simon, 1893 — Europe, Africa, Venezuela, China, Samoa, United States
* Oonopoides Bryant, 1940 — Central America, Venezuela, North America, Cuba
* Oonops Templeton, 1835 — South America, Caribbean, Europe, Africa, North America, Georgia, Oceania, Central America
* Opopaea Simon, 1892 — Oceania, Africa, Asia, North America, Panama, South America, Europe
* Orchestina Simon, 1882 — Africa, Asia, South America, North America, Central America, Europe, Caribbean, Oceania
* Ovobulbus Saaristo, 2007 — Israel, Egypt
* Paradysderina Platnick & Dupérré, 2011 — South America
* Patri Saaristo, 2001 — Seychelles
* Pelicinus Simon, 1892 — Asia, Brazil, Africa, Australia
* Pescennina Simon, 1903 — Central America, South America, Mexico
* Plectoptilus Simon, 1905 — Indonesia
* Ponsoonops Bolzern, 2014 — Central America, Mexico, South America, Cuba
* Predatoroonops Brescovit, Rheims & Ott, 2012
* Prethopalpus Baehr, Harvey, Burger & Thoma, 2012 — Oceania, Asia
* Prida Saaristo, 2001 — Seychelles
* Prodysderina Platnick, Dupérré, Berniker & Bonaldo, 2013 — Venezuela
* Pseudodysderina Platnick, Berniker & Bonaldo, 2013 — South America
* Pseudoscaphiella Simon, 1907 — South Africa
* Puan Izquierdo, 2012 — Argentina
* Reductoonops Platnick & Berniker, 2014 — Central America, Mexico, South America, Jamaica
* Scaphidysderina Platnick & Dupérré, 2011 — Ecuador, Peru, Colombia
* Scaphiella Simon, 1892 — Central America, Caribbean, South America, North America
* Scaphioides Bryant, 1942 — Caribbean, North America, Costa Rica
* Scaphios Platnick & Dupérré, 2010 — Ecuador, Colombia
* Semibulbus Saaristo, 2007 — Israel
* Semidysderina Platnick & Dupérré, 2011 — Colombia
* Setayeshoonops Makhan & Ezzatpanah, 2011 — Suriname
* Sicariomorpha Ott & Harvey, 2015 — Malaysia
* Silhouettella Benoit, 1979 — Asia, Africa
* Simlops Bonaldo, Ott & Ruiz, 2014 — South America, Trinidad
* Simonoonops Harvey, 2002 — South America, Caribbean
* Socotroonops Saaristo & van Harten, 2002 — Yemen
* Spinestis Saaristo & Marusik, 2009 — Ukraine
* Stenoonops Simon, 1892 — North America, Central America, Caribbean, South America, Seychelles
* Sulsula Simon, 1882 — Algeria, Egypt, Sudan
* Tapinesthis Simon, 1914 — Europe
* Telchius Simon, 1893 — Algeria, Morocco, South Africa
* Termitoonops Benoit, 1964 — Congo
* Tinadysderina Platnick, Berniker & Bonaldo, 2013
* Tolegnaro Álvarez-Padilla, Ubick & Griswold, 2012
* Toloonops Bolzern, Platnick & Berniker, 2015 — Mexico
* Triaeris Simon, 1892 — Asia, Africa, Australia
* Tridysderina Platnick, Berniker & Bonaldo, 2013
* Trilacuna Tong & Li, 2007 — Asia
* Unicorn Platnick & Brescovit, 1995 — Argentina, Chile, Bolivia
* Varioonops Bolzern & Platnick, 2013 — Central America, South America
* Vientianea Tong & Li, 2013 — Laos
* Volborattella Saucedo & Ubick, 2015
* Wanops Chamberlin & Ivie, 1938 — Mexico
* Xestaspis Simon, 1884 — Asia, Oceania, Africa
* Xiombarg Brignoli, 1979 — Brazil, Argentina
* Xyccarph Brignoli, 1978 — Brazil
* Xyphinus Simon, 1893 — Asia, Australia
* Yumates Chamberlin, 1924 — Mexico
* Zyngoonops Benoit, 1977 — Congo

### Extinct genera[edit]

* †Burmorchestina Wunderlich 2008 Burmese amber, Myanmar, Cenomanian
* †Canadaorchestina Wunderlich 2008 Canadian amber, Campanian
* †Fossilopaea Wunderlich 1988 Dominican amber, Miocene

## Gallery[edit]

* Megaoonops avrona

* Spinestis nikita

* Triaeris stenaspis

* Xestaspis shoushanensis

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b "Family: Oonopidae Simon, 1890". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. Retrieved 2019-04-22.
2. ^ Busschere, C., Fannes, W., Henrard, A., Gaublomme, E., Jocqué, R., & Baert, L. (2014). "Unravelling the goblin spiders puzzle: rDNA phylogeny of the family Oonopidae (Araneae)" (PDF). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny. 72 (2): 177–192. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2015-04-13.`{{cite journal}}`: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)

## Further reading[edit]

* Jocqué, R. & Dippenaar-Schoeman, A. S. (2006). Spider Families of the World. Royal Museum for Central Africa. 336 pp. ISBN 90-75894-85-6.
* Penney, D. (2006). Fossil oonopid spiders in Cretaceous ambers from Canada and Myanmar. Palaeontology 49(1): 229–235.
* Penney, D. (2004). New spiders in upper Cretaceous amber from New Jersey in the American Museum of Natural History (Arthropoda: Araneae). Palaeontology 47(2): 367–375.

## External links[edit]

Wikispecies has information related to Oonopidae.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oonopidae.

* Goblin Spider Planetary Biodiversity Inventory. American Museum of Natural History.

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Extant Araneae families

* Kingdom: Animalia
* Phylum: Arthropoda
* Subphylum: Chelicerata
* Class: Arachnida

Suborder Mesothelae

* Liphistiidae (segmented spiders)

Suborder Opisthothelae

| Mygalomorphae|

* Actinopodidae (mouse spiders and relatives)
* Antrodiaetidae (folding trapdoor spiders)
* Atracidae (Australian funnel-web spiders)
* Atypidae (atypical tarantulas or purseweb spiders)
* Barychelidae (brushed trapdoor spiders)
* Ctenizidae (cork-lid trapdoor spiders)
* Cyrtaucheniidae (wafer trapdoor spiders)
* Dipluridae (funnel-web tarantulas)
* Euctenizidae
* Halonoproctidae
* Hexathelidae (funnel-webs or venomous funnel-web tarantulas)
* Idiopidae
* Macrothelidae
* Mecicobothriidae (dwarf tarantulas)
* Microstigmatidae
* Migidae (tree trapdoor spiders)
* Nemesiidae (funnel-web tarantulas)
* Paratropididae (bald-legged spiders)
* Porrhothelidae
* Theraphosidae (true tarantulas)

Araneomorphae|

| Non-entelegynes|

* Archaeidae (pelican spiders)
* Austrochilidae
* Caponiidae
* Diguetidae (coneweb spiders)
* Drymusidae (false violin spiders)
* Dysderidae (woodlouse hunters)
* Filistatidae (crevice weaver spiders)
* Gradungulidae (large-clawed spiders)
* Huttoniidae
* Hypochilidae (lampshade spiders)
* Leptonetidae
* Mecysmaucheniidae
* Ochyroceratidae (midget ground weavers)
* Oonopidae (goblin spiders)
* Orsolobidae
* Pacullidae
* Palpimanidae (palp-footed spiders)
* Periegopidae
* Pholcidae (cellar spiders)
* Plectreuridae
* Scytodidae (spitting spiders)
* Segestriidae (tube-dwelling spiders)
* Sicariidae (violin spiders, assassin spiders)
* Stenochilidae
* Telemidae (long-legged cave spiders)
* Tetrablemmidae (armored spiders)
* Trogloraptoridae (Trogloraptor marchingtoni)

Entelegynae|

* Agelenidae (araneomorph funnel weavers)
* Amaurobiidae (tangled nest spiders)
* Ammoxenidae (termite hunters)
* Anapidae
* Anyphaenidae (anyphaenid sac spiders)
* Araneidae (orb-weaver spiders)
* Arkyidae
* Cheiracanthiidae
* Cithaeronidae
* Clubionidae (sac spiders)
* Corinnidae (dark sac spiders)
* Ctenidae (wandering spiders or tropical wolf spiders)
* Cyatholipidae
* Cybaeidae
* Cycloctenidae
* Deinopidae (net-casting spiders)
* Desidae (intertidal spiders)
* Dictynidae
* Eresidae (velvet spiders)
* Gallieniellidae
* Gnaphosidae (flat-bellied ground spiders)
* Hahniidae (dwarf sheet spiders)
* Hersiliidae (tree trunk spiders)
* Homalonychidae
* Lamponidae (white-tailed spiders)
* Linyphiidae (sheet weavers or money spiders)
* Liocranidae (liocranid sac spiders)
* Lycosidae (wolf spiders)
* Malkaridae (shield spiders)
* Megadictynidae
* Mimetidae (pirate spiders)
* Miturgidae
* Mysmenidae (spurred orb-weavers)
* Nesticidae (cave cobweb spiders)
* Nicodamidae (red and black spiders)
* Oecobiidae (disc web spiders)
* Oxyopidae (lynx spiders)
* Penestomidae
* Philodromidae (running crab spiders)
* Phrurolithidae
* Physoglenidae
* Phyxelididae
* Pimoidae
* Pisauridae (nursery web spiders) (including Halidae)
* Psechridae
* Salticidae (jumping spiders)
* Selenopidae
* Senoculidae (bark hunters)
* Sparassidae (huntsman spiders)
* Stiphidiidae
* Symphytognathidae (dwarf orb-weavers)
* Synaphridae
* Synotaxidae
* Tetragnathidae (long jawed orb-weavers)
* Theridiidae (tangle-web spiders)
* Theridiosomatidae (ray spiders)
* Thomisidae (crab spiders)
* Titanoecidae
* Toxopidae
* Trachelidae
* Trechaleidae
* Trochanteriidae
* Udubidae
* Uloboridae (cribellate orb weavers)
* Viridasiidae
* Xenoctenidae
* Zodariidae (ant spiders)
* Zoropsidae

* Spider taxonomy
* Bold are families with more than 1000 species

Taxon identifiers|

* Wikidata: Q10967
* Wikispecies: Oonopidae
* ADW: Oonopidae
* AFD: Oonopidae
* BioLib: 435
* BOLD: 285425
* BugGuide: 713688
* CoL: DM5
* EoL: 201
* Fauna Europaea: 10645
* Fauna Europaea (new): 99f4785f-e9a3-4300-ac0f-f6a43b55577d
* Fossilworks: 190417
* GBIF: 6185
* iNaturalist: 57647
* IRMNG: 100421
* ITIS: 847745
* NBN: NBNSYS0000160564
* NCBI: 1498386
* NZOR: e0df8f60-970b-4099-bf2c-299902664cd9
* Plazi: E57CAF63-FF9F-FFF9-FF75-F951A63CF96C
* WSC: urn:lsid:nmbe.ch:spiderfam:0083

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