Lynx spider: Difference between revisions

 

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| image_upright = 1.15

| image_upright = 1.15

| image_caption = Striped lynx spider (”Oxyopes salticus”), male

| image_caption = Striped lynx spider (”Oxyopes salticus”), male

| image2 = Hamadruas sp 05600.jpg

| image2_caption = ”Hamadruas” sp. from India

| taxon = Oxyopidae

| taxon = Oxyopidae

| authority = [[Tamerlan Thorell|Thorell]], 1869

| authority = [[Tamerlan Thorell|Thorell]], 1869

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”’Lynx spiders”’ (”’Oxyopidae”’) is a family of [[Araneomorphae|araneomorph]] spiders first described by [[Tamerlan Thorell]] in 1870.<ref name=”thorell1870″ /> Most species make little use of webs, instead spending their lives as hunting spiders on plants. Many species frequent flowers , ambushing pollinators, in a manner similar to [[crab spider]]s. They tend to tolerate members of their own species more than most spiders do, and at least one species has been observed exhibiting social behaviour.<ref name=”tapin” />

”’Lynx spiders”’ (”’Oxyopidae”’) is a family of [[Araneomorphae|araneomorph]] spiders first described by [[Tamerlan Thorell]] in 1870.<ref name=”thorell1870″ /> Most species make little use of webs, instead spending their lives as hunting spiders on plants. Many species frequent flowers , ambushing pollinators, in a manner similar to [[crab spider]]s. They tend to tolerate members of their own species more than most spiders do, and at least one species has been observed exhibiting social behaviour.<ref name=”tapin” />

==Description ==

==Description==

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There are several [[Genus|genera]] of Oxyopidae: [[Oxyopes]], [[Peucetia]], [[Hamataliwa]], [[Hamadruas]], [[Hostus]], [[Pseudohostus]], [[Schaenicoscelis]], [[Tapinillus]], and [[Tapponia]].<ref name=wsc /> Most spiders in the Oxyopidae family have large spiny bristles on their legs and in many species the bristles form almost a basket-like structure that may assist in confining the prey that they grasp, and protect the spider from its struggles. Most ”Oxyopes” and ”Hamataliwa” species are small to medium in size. Lynx spiders, in spite of being largely ambush hunters, are very speedy runners and leapers, alert and with good vision. Oxyopidae in general rely on keen eyesight in stalking, chasing, or ambushing prey, and also in avoiding enemies.

There are several [[Genus|genera]] of Oxyopidae: [[Oxyopes]], [[Peucetia]], [[Hamataliwa]], [[Hamadruas]], [[Hostus]], [[Pseudohostus]], [[Schaenicoscelis]], [[Tapinillus]], and [[Tapponia]].<ref name=wsc /> Most spiders in the Oxyopidae family have large spiny bristles on their legs and in many species the bristles form almost a basket-like structure that may assist in confining the prey that they grasp, and protect the spider from its struggles. Most ”Oxyopes” and ”Hamataliwa” species are small to medium in size. Lynx spiders, in spite of being largely ambush hunters, are very speedy runners and leapers, alert and with good vision. Oxyopidae in general rely on keen eyesight in stalking, chasing, or ambushing prey, and also in avoiding enemies.

== Identification ==

==Identification==

As with many other families of spiders, the arrangement of their eyes is typical of the family and is an important aid in identifying them as members of the family. Six of the eight eyes of Oxyopid spiders are arranged in a hexagon-like pattern, more or less on a prominent hump on the front upper corner of the [[prosoma]]. The other two eyes are smaller, less conspicuous, and generally are situated in front of and below the other six. The basal parts of the [[chelicerae]] of most species are large, vertical and parallel, which combine with the bluff front end, a “high forehead” to the prosoma, to give most species a peculiar “flat-faced” appearance.

As with many other families of spiders, the arrangement of their eyes is typical of the family and is an important aid in identifying them as members of the family. Six of the eight eyes of Oxyopid spiders are arranged in a hexagon-like pattern, more or less on a prominent hump on the front upper corner of the [[prosoma]]. The other two eyes are smaller, less conspicuous, and generally are situated in front of and below the other six. The basal parts of the [[chelicerae]] of most species are large, vertical and parallel, which combine with the bluff front end, a “high forehead” to the prosoma, to give most species a peculiar “flat-faced” appearance.

== Hunting ==

==Hunting==

⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫

File:LynxSpider Hunt macrogiants E.jpg

File:LynxSpider Hunt macrogiants E.jpg

File:LynxSpider Hunt macrogiants D.jpg

File:LynxSpider Hunt macrogiants D.jpg

File:LynxSpider Hunt macrogiants C.jpg

File:LynxSpider Hunt macrogiants C.jpg

File:LynxSpider Hunt macrogiants B.jpg

File:LynxSpider Hunt macrogiants B.jpg

File:LynxSpider Hunt macrogiants F.jpg|hunting spider at [[Mumbai]] @macrogiants

File:LynxSpider Hunt macrogiants F.jpg

File:LynxSpider Hunt macrogiants G.jpg

File:LynxSpider Hunt macrogiants G.jpg

⚫

</gallery>

</gallery>

== Behavior ==

==Behavior==

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Except when defending egg purses, many tend to flee rapidly when approached by predators or large creatures such as humans. They tend not to be very aggressive towards other members of their own species, and sometimes meet casually in small groups. Possibly as an extreme example, at least one member of the genus ”[[Tapinillus]]” is remarkable as being one of the few [[social spider]]s, living in colonies with communal feeding, cooperative brood care, and generational overlap.<ref name=”aviles” /><ref name=”fink” />

Except when defending egg purses, many tend to flee rapidly when approached by predators or large creatures such as humans. They tend not to be very aggressive towards other members of their own species, and sometimes meet casually in small groups. Possibly as an extreme example, at least one member of the genus ”[[Tapinillus]]” is remarkable as being one of the few [[social spider]]s, living in colonies with communal feeding, cooperative brood care, and generational overlap.<ref name=”aviles” /><ref name=”fink” />

== Benefits ==

==Benefits==

Some members of the genus ”Oxyopes” are abundant enough to be important in agricultural systems as biological control agents. This is especially true of the striped lynx spider (”[[Oxyopes salticus]]”). Their net value in agriculture has been disputed however, on the grounds of their predation of pollinators.<ref name=”weems” />

Some members of the genus ”Oxyopes” are abundant enough to be important in agricultural systems as biological control agents. This is especially true of the striped lynx spider (”[[Oxyopes salticus]]”). Their net value in agriculture has been disputed however, on the grounds of their predation of pollinators.<ref name=”weems” />

==Genera==

==Genera==

{{main|List of Oxyopidae species}}

{{main|List of Oxyopidae species}}

<gallery mode=packed heights=140px>

Hamataliwa 315182521 569355861.jpg|”Hamataliwa” sp.

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Malagasy green lynx spider (Peucetia madagascariensis) male.jpg|male ”[[Peucetia madagascariensis]]”

Schaenicoscelis female egg sac.jpeg|female ”Schaenicoscelis” with egg sac

⚫

==Genera==

{{as of|2025|10}}, this family includes nine genera:<ref name=”wsc” />

{{as of|2025|10}}, this family includes nine genera:<ref name=”wsc” />

{{Div col}}

{{Div col}}

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* ”[[Tapponia]]” <small>Simon, 1885</small> – [[Taiwan]], [[Indonesia]], [[Malaysia]]

* ”[[Tapponia]]” <small>Simon, 1885</small> – [[Taiwan]], [[Indonesia]], [[Malaysia]]

{{Div col end}}

{{Div col end}}

==Gallery==

<gallery>

File:Orange striped lynx spider.JPG|”Oxyopes quadrifasciatus” are member of the family Oxyopidae. Photo taken in [[Dahod]].

File:Orange striped lynx spider from dahod by pratik jain.jpg|Lynx spider, Dahod

File:Lynx spider – Oxyopes sp.jpg|”Oxyopes sp.”

File:Lynx Spider by Nabarun.jpg|Lynx spider, [[Kolkata]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]].

File:Oxyopes sp predating on a diptera.JPG|Lynx spider preying on a housefly

File:Oxyopes salticus, male, PEM.jpg|Male ”Oxyopes salticus”, 4&nbsp;mm. North Carolina.

File:The Frangipani Murder.jpg|The lynx spider, ”Oxyopes” species with prey at Dehra Dun, India

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File:Lynx Spider.jpg|Lynx Spider – Wichita, Kansas, USA

File:Male and female western Lynx spiders.webm|thumbtime=37|Male and female [[Oxyopes scalaris|western lynx spider]]s. Female (6.5 millimeter body length) on leaf. Male on [[clover]] and approached by a [[Halictid]] bee. This species is in the [[Oxyopidae|lynx spider]] family

File:Western lynx spider jumping.webm|thumbtime=37|[[Oxyopes scalaris|Western lynx spider]] jumping. At least one jump was triggered by a fast flying insect approaching. Jumps are replayed in slow motion, This species is in the [[Oxyopidae|lynx spider]] family

⚫

==See also==

==See also==

Family of spiders

Lynx spiders (Oxyopidae) is a family of araneomorph spiders first described by Tamerlan Thorell in 1870.^[1] Most species make little use of webs, instead spending their lives as hunting spiders on plants. Many species frequent flowers , ambushing pollinators, in a manner similar to crab spiders. They tend to tolerate members of their own species more than most spiders do, and at least one species has been observed exhibiting social behaviour.^[2]

There are several genera of Oxyopidae: Oxyopes, Peucetia, Hamataliwa, Hamadruas, Hostus, Pseudohostus, Schaenicoscelis, Tapinillus, and Tapponia.^[3] Most spiders in the Oxyopidae family have large spiny bristles on their legs and in many species the bristles form almost a basket-like structure that may assist in confining the prey that they grasp, and protect the spider from its struggles. Most Oxyopes and Hamataliwa species are small to medium in size. Lynx spiders, in spite of being largely ambush hunters, are very speedy runners and leapers, alert and with good vision. Oxyopidae in general rely on keen eyesight in stalking, chasing, or ambushing prey, and also in avoiding enemies.

As with many other families of spiders, the arrangement of their eyes is typical of the family and is an important aid in identifying them as members of the family. Six of the eight eyes of Oxyopid spiders are arranged in a hexagon-like pattern, more or less on a prominent hump on the front upper corner of the prosoma. The other two eyes are smaller, less conspicuous, and generally are situated in front of and below the other six. The basal parts of the chelicerae of most species are large, vertical and parallel, which combine with the bluff front end, a “high forehead” to the prosoma, to give most species a peculiar “flat-faced” appearance.

Lynx spiders tend to be drab ambush hunters, depending to some extent on the season, some occupy flowers, ambushing pollinating insects. In this they resemble the crab spiders (Thomisidae) in behaviour. Others crouch in wait, camouflaged on plant stalks or bark. Peucetia species on the other hand, commonly are larger. They are rangy and their camouflage is vivid green, adapted to hunting or hiding among foliage.

Except when defending egg purses, many tend to flee rapidly when approached by predators or large creatures such as humans. They tend not to be very aggressive towards other members of their own species, and sometimes meet casually in small groups. Possibly as an extreme example, at least one member of the genus Tapinillus is remarkable as being one of the few social spiders, living in colonies with communal feeding, cooperative brood care, and generational overlap.^[4][5]

Some members of the genus Oxyopes are abundant enough to be important in agricultural systems as biological control agents. This is especially true of the striped lynx spider (Oxyopes salticus). Their net value in agriculture has been disputed however, on the grounds of their predation of pollinators.^[6]

As of October 2025^[update], this family includes nine genera:^[3]