Cybaeidae


Cybaeidae is a family of spiders first described by Nathan Banks in 1892. There are small to large sized entelegyne spiders, which are ecribellate. The diving bell spider or water spider Argyroneta aquatica was previously included in this family, but is now in the family Dictynidae. The distribution of this species resembles closely a typical Holarctic biogeography, with all of their species being found in the northern hemisphere. Where they have a tendency to live beneath rocks or woody debris in shaded and cool forest habitats, but they can also be found in caves, ant nests, and moss on tree trunks. They are morphologically defined as spiders which have three claws, a single row of tarsal trichobothria, and posterior lateral spinnerets which lack a cribellum.
Most of the cybaeid genera are very species rich, as they have a large number of very short-range endemic species.

Genera

, this family includes 24 genera and 303 species:Allocybaeina Bennett, 2020 – Japan, United StatesBlabomma Chamberlin & Ivie, 1937 – Korea, North AmericaCalymmaria Chamberlin & Ivie, 1937 – North AmericaCryphoeca Thorell, 1870 – Japan, Turkey, Europe, North AmericaCryphoecina Deltshev, 1997 – MontenegroCybaeina Chamberlin & Ivie, 1932 – Korea, North AmericaCybaeota Chamberlin & Ivie, 1933 – Russia, North AmericaCybaeozyga Chamberlin & Ivie, 1937 – United StatesCybaeus L. Koch, 1868 – Asia, Europe, North America, PeruDirksia Chamberlin & Ivie, 1942 – France, North AmericaEthobuella Chamberlin & Ivie, 1937 – North AmericaGuicybaeus Wang, Chen, Yang & Zhang, 2023 – ChinaMastigusa Menge, 1854 – Algeria, Georgia, Iran, Turkey, Europe, BritainNeocryphoeca Roth, 1970 – United StatesNeocybaeina Bennett, 2023 – United StatesPseudocybaeota Bennett, 2022 – United StatesRothaeina Bennett, 2023 – United StatesSincybaeus Wang & Zhang, 2022 – China, JapanSiskiyu Hedin, Ramírez & Monjaraz-Ruedas, 2025 – United StatesSymposia Simon, 1898 – Colombia, VenezuelaTuberta Simon, 1884 – Azerbaijan, Turkey, Europe, BritainVagellia Simon, 1899 – IndonesiaWillisus Roth, 1981 – United StatesYorima Chamberlin & Ivie, 1942 – Cuba, United States
A fossil genus is also placed in this family:
  • †Vectaraneus Selden, 2003