There are certain characteristics to each of the spider families. By observing the spider you may be able to identify what kind of spider it is. It is important to count eyes.

Daddy Long-Legs
Is not a spider. It is an arachnid. It has 2 eyes, long legs and the pedipalps attach to the abdomen. It is called a Harvestman.

Crab spider
8 eyes arranged in two rows. climb flowers and plants, hunt for prey. Legs are held outstretched to the sides like a crab. Spider can change color, white to pink, to blend in with the flower.  Scientific family is Selenopidae.

Sac spider
8 eyes arranged in 2 rows. Spins sac-like tube inside a rolled leaf.  Scientific family is Clubionidae.

Jumping Spider
8 eyes in 3 rows. 2 large center eyes. Good eyesight.  Jumps on prey.  Scientific family is Salticidae.

Lynx Spider
8 eyes, six eyes form a hexagon with 2 smaller forward facing eyes. Found on plants, jumps on prey.  Scientific family is Oxyopidae.

Wolf Spider
8 eyes of unequal size in 3 rows. Ground dweller, hunts for prey. Scientific family is Lycosidae.

Orb weaver spider
8 small eyes in 2 rows of 4. Spins circle webs on support lines and radiates out from the center.  Scientific family is Araneidae.

Funnel web spider
8 eyes in 2 parallel rows. Long spinnerets. Web is cone shaped. Scientific family is Agelenidae.

Sheet-web spider
8 eyes in 2 parallel rows. Spin flat sheet or dome shaped webs. Waits behind web until prey caught in web.  Scientific family is Linyphiidae.

Money spider
Very small spiders, 8 eyes in 2 rows: 6 are light and 2 are dark. Scientific family is Dictynidae.

Comb-footed spider
6-8 eyes. Bristles on legs comb out silk to make irregular webs. Black Widow is a comb-footed spider.  Scientific family is Theridiidae.

Violin Spider
6 eyes in 3 pairs. Violin mark on back. Spin small irregular webs. Scientific family is Loxoscelidae.

Large-jawed orb weaver
8 eyes, large jaws, circle webs, thin body and long legs. Scientific family is Tetragnathidae.

Spitting spider
6 eyes in 3 groups. Hides under trash, rocks or in homes. Spits a sticky secretion on its prey.  Scientific family is Scytodidae

Trapdoor Spider
6 eyes in 3 groups. Live in tube-like burrows in ground and covered with a hinged lid made of silk and leaf debris. Scientific family is Ctenizidae.