Dolomedidae

Dolomedidae
Dolomedes fimbriatus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Dolomedidae Simon, 1876[1]
Diversity
7 genera, 128 species

Dolomedidae is a family of spiders comprising seven genera formerly part of the family Pisauridae. It includes the genus Dolomedes, known commonly as raft spiders, and its close relatives.

Taxonomy

The family was first circumscribed by Eugène Simon in 1876, but was later made synonymous with Pisauridae and Bradystichidae. It was restored to family level and redefined in 2025 based on a phylogenetic study of Pisauridae that found the family to be paraphyletic.[2] Morphologically, they differ from pisaurids in possessing a subterminal lateral apophysis below the fulcrum in males, and in females by possessing small, rounded accessory bulbs.

Genera

As of January 2025^[update] it contains 7 genera:[3]

• Bradystichus Simon, 1884 - New Caledonia
• Caledomedes Raven & Hebron, 2018 - New Caledonia
• Dolomedes Latreille, 1804 - Africa, Oceania, South America, North America, Asia, Cuba
• Mangromedes Raven, 2018 - Australia
• Megadolomedes Davies & Raven, 1980 - Australia
• Ornodolomedes Raven & Hebron, 2018 - Australia
• Tasmomedes Raven, 2018 - Australia

References

1. Eugène Simon (1892). Histoire naturelle des araignées (in French) (2 ed.). Paris: Roret. pp. 193–380. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
2. Morris, Sarah A.; Hazzi, Nicolas A.; Hormiga, Gustavo (February 2025). "Molecular phylogenetics of nursery web spiders (Araneae: Pisauridae)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 203: 108247. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108247. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
3. "Family: Dolomedidae". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 7 January 2025.