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Spitting spider

Spitting spiders (Family Scytodidae) are members of the genus Scytodes. They catch their prey by spitting a fluid that immobilizes it by congealing on contact into a venomous and sticky mass. They can be observed swaying from side to side, in order to cover the prey in a crisscrossed "Z" pattern; each of two pores in the chelicerae emits half of the pattern.

Like the Sicariidae and Diguetidae these spiders have six eyes, which are arranged as three pairs. They differ from members of those two families by having dome-like carapaces and in their markings, which often resemble Arabic writing. They do not build webs, but are often seen walking very slowly on walls or ceilings in houses. Unlike the sicariids, they are not dangerous to humans.


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