There are 15 described species of Lynx Spiders in the genus Oxyopes, with another 5 species across 3 genera in the Oxyopidae family that occur in Australia (see list at the end).

The following Lynx Spider belongs to the genus Oxyopes, with some species also known as Grass Lynx Spider.

Lynx Spider (Oxyopes) on Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra), Alice Springs, NT
Lynx Spider (Oxyopes sp) on Kangaroo Grass (Themeda triandra), Alice Springs, NT

Most Lynx Spiders species do not use of webs, instead spending their time hunting on plants. There are many species that frequent flowers in particular, ambushing pollinators.

Others are found living on grasses, with some genus of Oxyopes commonly known as Grass Lynx Spiders.

Many thanks to Johan Kruger from Australian spider identification page, Facebook for his help with species and information.


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Chelicerata
  • Class: Arachnida
  • Order: Araneae
  • Infraorder: Araneomorphae
  • Family: Oxyopidae
  • Genus Oxyopes
  • Species:
    • Oxyopes amoenus
    • Oxyopes attenuatus
    • Oxyopes dingo (Central Australia)
    • Oxyopes elegans
    • Oxyopes godeffroyi
    • Oxyopes gracilipes
    • Oxyopes gratus
    • Oxyopes macilentus
    • Oxyopes molarius
    • Oxyopes mundulus
    • Oxyopes papuanus
    • Oxyopes punctatus
    • Oxyopes quadrifasciatus
    • Oxyopes rubicundus
    • Oxyopes variabilis
  • Genus: Hamataliwa
  • Species:
    • Hamataliwa cooki
    • Hamataliwa monroei
  • Genus: Peucetia
  • Species:
    • Peucetia albescens
    • Peucetia margaritata
  • Genus: Pseudohostus
  • Species:
    • Pseudohostus squamosus

Footnote & References

  1. Lynx Spiders, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations?taxon_id=83843
  2. Oxyopidae, Lynx Spiders, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/665e7958-9ead-4be8-893d-e74f301a0e8a
  3. Australian spider identification page, Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/australianspidereducation

SpidersIndex of Spider Images Spiders in Australia Spiders Index Araneidae — Orb Weavers Arkys Australian Huntsman Spider Barking Spider Black House Spider Carepalxis sp Celaenia sp Crab Spiders Deinopidae — Net-casting Spiders Dolomedes sp Dolophones sp Euryopis umbilicate (Superb Ant-eater Spider) Flower Spiders Hackled Orbweavers (Uloboridae) Herennia sp Jewel Spider Jumping Spider Long Jawed Spider (Tetragnatha sp) Lynx Spider (Oxyopes) Mangrovia albida Maratus Missulena occatoria (Red-headed Mouse Spider) Miturgidae Nicodamidae (Red and Black Spider) Nyssus coloripes (Orange-legged Swift Spider) Ogre-faced Net-casting Spider Poltys sp (Twig Spider) Redback Spider Scorpion-tailed Spider (Arachnura higginsi) Thomisidae Wolf Spider Tiger Spider (Trichonephila plumipes) White-spotted Swift Spider (Nyssus albopunctatus)