The family Amaurobiidae, commonly known as hacklemesh or tangled-web spiders, belongs to the order Araneae. These spiders are mostly medium-sized and are recognized for building messy, irregular webs, often with a distinctive cribellate silk that appears woolly. Amaurobiids are primarily nocturnal hunters, feeding on insects and other small arthropods, and are found in a variety of habitats, including leaf litter, under rocks, and in human structures. They exhibit diverse behaviors, with some species showing parental care and others constructing retreats in which they hide during the day. Their cryptic coloration and web structure make them effective ambush predators within their ecosystems.