Stiphidiidae
Stiphidiidae, also called sheetweb spiders, is a family of araneomorph spiders first described in 1917.[1] Most species are medium size (Stiphidion facetum is about 8 millimetres (0.31 in) long) and speckled brown with long legs. All members of this family occur in New Zealand and Australia except for Asmea.[2] They build a horizontal sheet-like web under rocks, hence the name "sheetweb spiders".
The largest of New Zealand's species is Cambridgea foliata, with a body length up to 2.5 centimetres (0.98 in) and a span of up to 15 centimetres (5.9 in). Hikers and trampers often find their sheet-like webs that can be up to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) across, but the spider itself is nocturnal, spending the day time inside its web tunnel.[3] It can also be found in gardens and males may enter human homes. Their large size, including mouth parts up to 1 centimetre (0.39 in) long, may be intimidating, but it is considered harmless to humans and bites are extremely rare.
