The velvet spiders are a small group (about 100 species

Species

In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...

 in 10 genera

Genus

In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...

) of almost totally Old World spiders (exception: a few species are known from Brazil). The characteristics of this family of spiders

Spider

Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...

 are that they are entelegyne

Entelegynae

The Entelegynae are a subgroup of araneomorph spiders. Almost all members of this group, unlike most members of Haplogynae, have eight eyes, and females have a genital plate....

 (have a genital plate in the female), eight-eyed araneomorph

Araneomorphae

The Araneomorphae are a suborder of spiders. They are distinguished by having fangs that oppose each other and cross in a pinching action, in contrast to the Mygalomorphae , which have fangs that are nearly parallel in alignment.- Distinguishing characteristics :Note the difference in the...

 spiders that build unkempt webs. With the exception of Wajane, they are cribellate (use wooly silk). Some species are nearly eusocial

Eusociality

Eusociality is a term used for the highest level of social organization in a hierarchical classification....

, lacking only a specialized caste system and a queen.