Lynx spiders (Family Oxyopidae)

There are only three species of lynx spiders known from Ohio. This represents about <1% of our spider species.  Two of them are very common.

Characteristics of Oxyopidae:

• very high clypeus (space between eyes and jaws)
• six of the eight small eyes form a distinctive hexagon shaped arrangement at the peak of the head region
• actively jump through the vegetation, difficult to follow or capture
• legs are very spiny
• small to medium-sized spiders

We have only three species of lynx spiders, but two of them are widespread and very common.  They move through low vegetation rapidly by jumping.  If you get a close view, they look very spiny.  The head region is elevated and has eight small eyes, with six of them forming a hexagon around the peak of the head. The other two are small and are found just a little lower on the face. Lynx spiders are active daytime hunters; most often found in fields.

Ohio Examples: