CHECKLIST OF UAE SPIDERS (ORDER ARANEAE)
Spiders reported from the UAE are listed below by family. If a common name is shown, the species is one that was presented in the catalogue (Feulner & Roobas 2015) or the update (Roobas & Feulner 2016) or that has subsequently been photographed by the authors or a contributor, and is represented in the accompanying photo gallery. For spiders reported from the UAE but not yet depicted in the photo gallery, the publication containing the original record is referenced in the "Common Name" column.
Scientific Name Common Name*
Infraorder mygalomorphae Mygalomorphs
Family Theraphosidae Tarantulas
Ischnocolus jickelii Hajar Mountain Tarantula
Ischnocolus sp. C Wadi Sha'am tarantula
Infrarder araneomorphae Araneomorphs or true Spider
Infraorder mygalomorphae Mygalomorphs
Family Theraphosidae Tarantulas
Ischnocolus jickelii Hajar Mountain Tarantula
Ischnocolus sp. C Wadi Sha'am tarantula
Infrarder araneomorphae Araneomorphs or true Spider
Family Agelenidae Funnel Weavers / Sheet Weavers
cf. Benoitia lepida (O. P.-Cambridge, 1876) Mid-East Funnel Weaver
Family Araneidae Orb-Web Spiders
Araneus cf. angulatus Clerck, 1757 Angular Orb-Weaver
Argiope cf. sector (Forskål, 1775) MENA Lobed Argiope
Argiope trifasciata (Forsskål, 1775) Banded Argiope
Argiope cf. versicolor (Doleschall, 1859) Multi-Coloured Argiope
Argiope sp. A Lesser Lobed Argiope
Argiope sp. B Cemetery orb-weaver
Argiope cf. Cyclosa sp. Decoy orb-weaver
Cyrtophora cf. citricola (Forsskål, 1775) Tropical Tent-Weaver, Six-Humped Dome Weaver
Eriovixia cf. excels (Simon, 1889) Dark Bird Dropping Spider
Larinia cf. acuticauda Simon, 1906 Hook-Tipped Grass Orb-Weaver
Larinia cf. chloris (Audouin, 1826) Reed Grass Orb-Weaver
Neoscona cf. Sodom Levy, 1997 Dead Sea Orb-Weaver
Araneidae gen. sp. A Orange Garden Orb-Weaver
Araneidae gen. sp. B Giant Garden Orb-Weaver
Other Araneidae spp. Orb-Web Spiders
Family Dysderidae Woodlouce Hunters
Dysdera. sp. A Arabian Woodlouce hunter
Family Dictynidae Mesh-Web Spiders
Dictynidae gen. sp. A Leaf Lace-Weaver
Family Eresidae Velvet Spiders
Stegodyphus cf. lineatus (Latreille, 1817) Black-Backed Velvet Spider
Stegodyphus cf. nathistmus Kraus & Kraus, 1989 Veiled Velvet Spider
Stegodyphus sp. White-Backed Velvet Spider
Family Eutichuridae Yellow Sac Spiders
Cheiracanthium sp. A Yellow Sac Spider
Family Filistatidae Crevice Weavers or Hole Spiders
Filistata cf. insidiatrix (Forskål, 1775) Common Crevice Weaver
Sahastata nigra (Simon, 1897) Hajar Mountain Crevice Weaver
Sahastata cf sinupersica Arabian House Crevice weaver
Family Gnaphosidae Ground Spiders
Drassodes? sp. A Jack-in-the-Box Spider
Pterotricha sp(p). Sand Tube Spider
Pterotricha arabica Arabian Sand Tube Spider
Pterotricha esyunini Esyunin Sand Tube Spider
Pterotricha nadolnyi Desert Sand Tube Spider
Pterotricha stevensi Stevens Sand Tube Spider
Pterotricha dalmasi Dalmas Sand Tube Spider
Pterotricha kovblyuki Persian Sand Tube Spider
Gnaphosidae sp. A Wadi Hiluw Black Ant Mimic
Other Gnaphosidae spp. Gravel Runners
Prodidomus sp A Wall Runners
Family Hersiliidae Two-Tailed Spiders
Hersiliola cf. macullulata (Dufour, 1831) Small-Spotted Wanderer
Family Linyphiidae Dwarf or Hammock-Web Spiders
Erigone autumnalis Emerton, 1882 (see Tanasevitch 2010)
Erigone prominens Bösenberg & Strand, 1906 (see Tanasevitch 2010)
Mermessus fradeorum (Berland, 1932) (see Tanasevitch 2010)
Agyneta fuscipalpa (C.L. Koch, 1836) (see Tanasevitch 2010)
Agyneta paraprosecta Tanasevitch, 2010 (see Tanasevitch 2010)
Mughiphantes edentulus Tanasevitch, 2010 (see Tanasevitch 2010)
Nesioneta arabica Tanasevitch, 2010 (see Tanasevitch 2010)
Family Lycosidae Wolf Spiders
Evippa arenaria (Audouin, 1826) Sand Wolf
Hippasa cf. agelenoides (Simon, 1884) Funnel Web Wolf Spider
Hogna radiata (Latreille, 1817) False Tarantula Wolf Spider
Pardosa sp. A Hajar Wadi Pardosa
Pardosa sp. B Musandam Pardosa
Pardosa sp C Grass Pardosa
Pardosa sp D Leaf litter Pardosa
Wadicosa fidelis (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872) Grecian Urn Spider
Evippinae gen. sp. A Zipperback Wolf Spider
Evippinae gen. sp. B Zipperback Wolf Spider
Lycosidae gen. sp. A Umm az-Zamool Wolf Spider
Family Oecobiidae Star Web or Disc Web Spiders
Oecobius cf. navus Blackwall, 1859 Star Web Spider
Orchestina flagella Saaristo & van Harten, 2006 (A. van Harten pers. comm., per Y. Kranz)
Family Oxyopidae Lynx Spiders
Oxyopes cf. badhyzicus Mikhailov & Fet, 1986 Ivory Lynx Spider
Oxyopes cf. lineatus (Latreille, 1806) Striped Lynx Spider
Oxyopes sobrinus (O. P.-Cambridge, 1872) (see H.G.B. Roberts, online)
Oxyopes sp. A Mottled Lynx Spider
Peucetia cf. viridana Stoliczka, 1869 Asian Green Lynx Spider
Peucetia sp. Abutilon Lynx Spider
Peucetia cf arabica Arabian Green Lynx Spider
Family Palpimanidae Palp-Footed Spiders
Palpimanidae gen. sp. A Blue Palpimanid
Palpimanidae gen. sp. B Masafi Palpimanid
Family Philodromidae Running Crab Spiders
Halodromus barbarae Muster, 2009 (see Logunov 2011)
Halodromus patellidens (Levy, 1977) (see Logunov 2011)
Halodromus vanharteni Logunov, 2011 (see Logunov 2011)
Philodromus hierosolymitanus Levy, 1977 (see Logunov 2011)
Philodromus latrophagus Levy, 1999 (see Logunov 2011)
Philodromus sp. A Running Crab Spider
Thanatus fabricii (Audouin, 1826) (see Logunov 2011)
Thanatus fornicatus Simon, 1897 (see Logunov 2011)
Thanatus lesserti (Roewer, 1951) (see Logunov 2011)
Thanatus sepiacolor Levy, 1999 (see Logunov 2011)
Thanatus setigerus (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) (see Logunov 2011)
Thanatus sp. A Running Crab Spider
Tibellus sp. A Grass Running Spider
Family Pholcidae Daddy Long-Legs
Artema doriai (Thorell, 1881) Doria's Giant Daddy Long-Legs
cf. Crossopriza lyoni (Blackwall, 1867) Tailed Daddy Long-Legs
Micropholcus cf. fauroti (Simon, 1887) Leaf-Dwelling Micro-pholcid
cf. Physocyclus globosus (Taczanowski, 1874) Round-bodied Daddy Long-Legs
Family Pisauridae Nursery Web, Raft or Fishing Spiders
Dolomedes sp. A Hajar Mountain Fishing Spider
Dolomedes sp. B
Family Salticidae Jumping Spiders
Aelurillus galinae Wesolowska & van Harten, 2010 (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Aelurillus kochi Roewer, 1951 (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Bianor albobimaculatus (Lucas, 1846) (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Chalcoscirtus picinus Wesolowska & van Harten, 2011 (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2011)
Cyrba ocellata (Kroneberg, 1875) (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Evarcha praeclara Prószyński & Wesolowskain Prószyński, 2003) (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2011)
Evarcha seyun Wesolowska & van Harten, 2007 Bull's Eye Jumper
Hasarius adansoni (Audouin, 1826) Adanson's Jumper
Heliophanillus conspeciendus Wesolowska & van Harten, 2010 (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Heliophanillus fulgens (O.P.-Cambridge, 1872) Chartreuse Jumper
Heliophanus abditus Wesolowska, 1986 (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Heliophanus cf. dux Wesolowska & van Harten, 1994 (see H.G.B. Roberts, online)
Hyllus dotatus (Peckham & Peckham, 1903) [Common Name]
Langona pallida Prószyński, 1993 Zebra Jumper
Menemerus affinis Wesolowska & van Harten, 2010 (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Menemerus marginatus (Kroneberg, 1855) (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2011)
Menemerus cf. taeniatus L.Koch, 1867 Ghaf Tree Jumper
Mogrus cognatus Wesolowska & van Harten, 1994 (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Mogrus logunovi Prószyński, 2000 (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Myrmarachne tristis (Simon, 1882) (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Neaetha oculata (O.P.-Cambridge, 1876) (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Pellenes geniculatus (Somon, 1868) (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Pellenes hedjazensis Prószyński, 1993 Honey Zebra
JumperPhlegra bresnieri (Lucas, 1846) (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Phlegra pusilla Wesolowska & van Harten, 1994 (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Plexippoides flavescens (O.P.-Cambridge, 1872) (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Plexippus minor Wesolowska & van Harten, 2010 (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Plexippus paykulli Audouin 1826 Pan-Tropical Jumper
Pseudicius fayda Wesolowska & van Harten, 2010 Fayda Jumper
Pseudicius mushrif Wesolowska & van Harten, 2010 (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Rafalus arabicus Wesolowska & van Harten, 2010 Hajar Mountain Jumper
Rafalus desertus Wesolowska & van Harten, 2010 (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Rafalus feliksi Prószyński, 1999 (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Rafalus minimus Wesolowska & van Harten, 2010 (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Thyene imperialis (Rossi, 1846) Imperial Jumper
Yllenus logunovi Wesolowska & van Harten, 2010 (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Yllenus tschoni Caporiacco, 1936) (see Wesolowska & van Harten 2010)
Salticidae gen. sp. A Fayah Jumper
Salticidae gen. sp. B Orange Swirl Jumper
Salticidae gen. sp. C Freckled Jumper
Salticidae gen. sp. D Rorschach Jumper
Salticidae gen. sp. E Black Jumper
Salticidae gen. sp. F Cross-Stripe Jumper
Family Selenopidae Wall Spiders
Selenops Sp A Arabian Wall Spider
Family Scytodidae Spitting Spiders
Scytodes cf. thoracica Latreille, 1802 Spitting Spider
Scytodes sp. A Dark Spitting Spider
Family Sicariidae Brown Spiders
Loxosceles cf. rufescens (Dufour, 1820) Violin Spider
Family Sparassidae Huntsman or Giant Crab Spiders
Cebrennus cf. castaneitarsis Simon, 1880 Desert Huntsman / Sand Doweling Spider
Cebrennus sp. B Shrub Huntsman
Eusparassus arabicus Moradmand, 2013 Arabian Stone Huntsman
Eusparassus laevatus (Simon, 1897) Striped Stone Huntsman
Eusparassus perezi (Simon, 1902) Perez's Stone Huntsman
Eusparassus xerxes (Pocock, 1901) Xerxes Stone Huntsman
Olios iranii [A](Pocock, 1901) Pune Huntsman
Olios c iranii (Pocock, 1901) Orange Huntsman
Family Tetragnathidae Long-Jawed or Water Orb-Weavers
Tetragnatha cf. extensa (Linnaeus, 1758) Common Long-Jawed Orb-Weaver
Family Theridiidae Cobweb Weavers
Argyrodes sp. A Silver Spider
Latrodectus cf. cinctus Blackwall, 1865 MENA Redback
Latrodectus dahli Levi, 1959 Dahl's Widow
Latrodectus geometricus Koch, 1841 Brown Widow
Latrodectus cf. renivulvatus Dahl, 1902 Inland Button Spider
Steatoda cf. maura (Simon, 1909) Oriental Noble False Widow
Steatoda cf. triangulosa (Walckenaer, 1802) Triangulate Cobweb Spider
Steatoda cf. xerophila Levy & Amitai, 1982 (see H.G.B. Roberts, online)
Theridion jordanense Levy & Amitai, 1982 (see Thaler-Knoflach & El-Hennawy 2012)
Theridiidae gen. sp. A Two-Striped Theridiid
Family Thomisidae Crab Spiders
Thomisus cf. spectabilis Doleschall, 1859 Spectacular Flower Crab
Thomisus cf. onustus Walckenaer, 1805 Common Two-Humped Flower Crab
Tmarus sp. A Tree Thorn Mimic
Xysticus sp. A Ground-Dwelling Crab Spider
Xysticus sp. B Bark-Dwelling Crab Spider
Thomisus yemensis? Dippenaar-Schoeman & van Harten, 2007 (see H.G.B. Roberts, online)
Thomisidae gen. sp. A Pumpkin Crab spider
Family Uloboridae Hackled Orb or Triangle Web Spiders
Uloborus cf. plumipes Lucas, 1846 Feather-legged Spider
Family Zodariidae Ant-Eating Spiders
Dusmadiores deserticola Jocqué, 2011 (see Jocqué 2011)
Lachesana insensibilis Jocqué, 1991 Bristly Arabian Zodariid
Parazodarion raddei (Simon, 1889) (see Jocqué 2011)
Trygetus rectus Jocqué, 2011 (see Jocqué 2011)
Zodarion simplex Jocqué, 2011 (see Jocqué 2011)
[*Note: Many of the vernacular or common names for the species listed above are taken from one or the other of two well-known popular English language references, Levi & Levi (1990) and Hillyard (2006), or from Wikipedia. For species for which no suitable common name was found, the authors have proposed common names (shown in italics) based on the scientific names, on geographical distribution and/or on field characteristics as observed in the UAE. Common names for families have generally been adopted from the above-mentioned references and/or from Jocqué & Dippenaar-Schoeman (2007).
Although the use of common names may seem to make the recognition and identification of spiders initially more accessible (and they are included here for that purpose), the reader is cautioned that "common" names are not necessarily in common use, and may differ from place to place and from author to author. Moreover, they may sometimes be contradictory. For example, Hillyard (2006) calls the widespread cobweb spider Steatoda grossa (family Theridiidae) the "Cellar Spider", but "Cellar Spider" is also used by both Hillyard (2006) and Levi & Levi (1990) to refer generally to several species of Pholcidae (Daddy Long-Legs). The two guides use the same name, "Short-Bodied Cellar Spider", for two different species of Daddy Long-Legs.
In order to avoid confusion of this sort, the authors have relied on and strongly recommend the use of scientific names to the extent possible. That recommendation must inevitably accommodate, however, the often formidable difficulty of determining what is the correct scientific nomenclature for any given spider taxon. Thus in practical discussion of a poorly known spider fauna it is often necessary to employ a mix of scientific and descriptive terminology.]
Although the use of common names may seem to make the recognition and identification of spiders initially more accessible (and they are included here for that purpose), the reader is cautioned that "common" names are not necessarily in common use, and may differ from place to place and from author to author. Moreover, they may sometimes be contradictory. For example, Hillyard (2006) calls the widespread cobweb spider Steatoda grossa (family Theridiidae) the "Cellar Spider", but "Cellar Spider" is also used by both Hillyard (2006) and Levi & Levi (1990) to refer generally to several species of Pholcidae (Daddy Long-Legs). The two guides use the same name, "Short-Bodied Cellar Spider", for two different species of Daddy Long-Legs.
In order to avoid confusion of this sort, the authors have relied on and strongly recommend the use of scientific names to the extent possible. That recommendation must inevitably accommodate, however, the often formidable difficulty of determining what is the correct scientific nomenclature for any given spider taxon. Thus in practical discussion of a poorly known spider fauna it is often necessary to employ a mix of scientific and descriptive terminology.]