The family Theridiosomatidae, commonly known as ray spiders, belongs to the order Araneae (true spiders). These are small, delicate spiders often found in moist, shaded habitats such as forest understories near streams or leaf litter. They are best known for constructing unique cone-shaped orb webs with radiating lines, which they hold under tension and release to spring forward at prey, an unusual hunting strategy among orb-weavers. Theridiosomatids are distributed worldwide, though they are most diverse in tropical regions, and their cryptic appearance and tiny size make them easy to overlook. Despite their inconspicuous nature, they play an important role in controlling populations of small flying insects in their ecosystems.