The family Uloboridae, commonly known as hackled orb-weavers, belongs to the order Araneae (spiders). Unlike most other orb-weaving spiders, uloborids lack venom glands, relying instead on their unique cribellate silk, which is extremely fine and wool-like, to entangle and immobilize prey. They typically construct orb-shaped or reduced, irregular webs and are most diverse in tropical and subtropical regions, though some species occur in temperate areas. Members of this family are generally small to medium-sized, with elongated bodies and long legs adapted for delicate web construction. Their unusual method of prey capture and absence of venom make them ecologically distinct among spiders.