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| This family has 20 described genera that contain at least 110 species in
Australia. These spiders are usually small (up to 15 mm). They are fast-moving, terrestrial and live between litter and under stones. Some species lives in burrows. Most forms have the head raised very high at the front, where it slopes steeply in a vertical plane. Carapace, abdomen and legs are sparsely hairy and shiny, usually reddish brown or dark coloured with sometimes white and coloured spots on the abdomen. Their jaws (chelicerae) are massive and the palps on the males are like giant clubs. |
Some Storena species are active ant-hunters. Their European name for
some species of this family is ant-hunting spider.
Storena formosa is a very common spider that builds her nest with
palisades around it.
It is a spectacularly coloured spider that resembles the Gnaphosid
Sunpunna picta.
The body and legs are reddish and the dark reddish black abdomen has five
yellow spots.
Storena maculata is less reddish and has white spots on her abdomen.
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| Storena maculata ? | Gnaphosidae Sunpunna picta a look-alike |
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| Storena maculata ? VIC | Storena sp. ZZ286 (by Jurgen Otto) |
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| Storena formosa (picture by Farhan Bokhari) WA | Storena ZZ426 (picture by Farhan Bokhari) WA |
Genus Storosa
| Storosa obscura is a fast running spider than can
be found on the ground between litter. Its size varies between 11 and 13 mm . It waves it front legs when threatened. |
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| Storosa obscura (picture by Robert Whyte) | Storosa obscura (picture by Robert Whyte) |
Genus Habronestes
This fast running spider can be found on the ground in shallow
burrows in eucalypt forests. |
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| Habronestes hunti (picture by Robert Whyte) M | Habronestes hunti (picture by Robert Whyte) M |
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| Habronestes ZZ347 by Jurgen Otto | Habronestes ZZ347 by Jurgen Otto |
Ed Nieuwenhuys, 23 march 2023
3 October 2016, 10 april 2011 , January 4, 2009, February 2005
Copyright ã2002-2023