Dionycha

The Dionycha clade includes a large group of hunting spiders, meaning they do not build webs to capture prey. Instead, these spiders use agility, camouflage, or speed to capture their prey by ambush or pursuit.

🧬 Key Characteristics

• Two terminal claws at the end of each leg (hence the name Dionycha)
• Active or ambush hunting strategy
• Often highly mobile
• Varied behaviors, but rarely associated with geometric webs
• Presence of adhesive hairs (scopulae) for climbing

🕷️ Typical Families in the Clade

Some of the families found in this group include:

• Salticidae – Jumping spiders with exceptional vision
• Gnaphosidae – Nocturnal ground-hunting spiders
• Clubionidae, Corinnidae, Cheiracanthiidae, etc.

🌱 Habitats

Dionycha spiders occupy a wide range of environments:

• Forest litter
• Foliage, bark
• Open and sunny habitats
• Anthropic environments (walls, gardens, etc.)

🔍 Observation

Their active behavior makes them easily observable during the day in some families (e.g., Salticidae), and at night in others (e.g., Gnaphosidae). They are a fascinating subject in macrophotography, thanks to their dynamic postures and morphological diversity.