Oonopidae
Goblin spiders, or Oonopidae, are a family of tiny spiders found all over the world. They include about 2,000 described species in 115 genera, with estimates rising to 2,500. The type genus is Oonops.
Most oonopids are very small, about 1–3 millimeters long. They usually have six eyes, but some species have four eyes, two eyes, or none at all. Many features are unusual, especially in males, such as strange mouthparts, special patterns on the chest, or extended leg parts. Some genera have highly modified pedipalps (appendages near the mouth), and others have unique body shapes like carapace extensions or sternal “pouches.” Some species, like Orchestina, may even be able to jump because of very large hind leg segments.
Oonopids are rarely seen because of their small size. They are commonly found in leaf litter and under rocks, but they also make up a large part of the spider life in tropical rainforest canopies. A few blind, Afrotropical genera (Anophthalmoonops, Caecoonops, Termitoonops) live inside termite nests.
Some species may reproduce without males (parthenogenesis). Notably Heteroonops spinimanus and Triaeris stenaspis have no males collected so far.
Oonopids are often found as subfossils in amber, and amber preserves are common for this family because of their small size and wide distribution. Fossil oonopids in sedimentary rocks are not known. The Orchestina genus appears in amber dating back more than 100 million years, showing that oonopids have been around for a long time.
As of January 2026, the family includes 115 genera and 1,978 species.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 18:15 (CET).