The Gnaphosoidea are a superfamily

Taxonomic rank

In biological classification, rank is the level in a taxonomic hierarchy. Examples of taxonomic ranks are species, genus, family, and class. Each rank subsumes under it a number of less general categories...

 of araneomorph

Araneomorphae

The Araneomorphae are a suborder of spiders. They are distinguished by having fangs that oppose each other and cross in a pinching action, in contrast to the Mygalomorphae , which have fangs that are nearly parallel in alignment.- Distinguishing characteristics :Note the difference in the...

, mostly eight-eyed spiders, with seven families:

• Ammoxenidae
  Ammoxenidae
  The Ammoxenidae are a small spider family with 18 species in four genera.-Distribution:Two genera occur in Africa, the other two in Australia.-Species:Ammoxenus Simon, 1893...
  
  
• Cithaeronidae
  Cithaeronidae
  The Cithaeronidae are a small spider family with only six species in two genera.-Biology:Cithaeronidae are fast moving spiders which actively hunt at night and rest during the day in silken retreats they construct below rocks.. Female Cithaeron are about 5 to 7 mm long, males about 4 mm...
  
  
• Gallieniellidae
  Gallieniellidae
  The Gallieniellidae are a spider family with 48 species in ten genera.The species of this family are suspected to be specialized in ant-preying.-Distribution:...
  
  
• Gnaphosidae
• Lamponidae
  Lamponidae
  The Lamponidae are a spider family with about 200 described species in 23 genera.-Distribution:Species from this family are generally endemic to Australia, with the genus Centrocalia endemic to New Caledonia, and two Lampona species also occurring in New Zealand...
  
  
• Prodidomidae
  Prodidomidae
  The Prodidomidae are a spider family with about 300 species in 31 genera. They are sometimes called Long-Spinneret Ground Spiders.This family is part of the superfamily Gnaphosoidea. They are easily identified by the greatly elongated base of the piriform gland spigots. At least parts of their body...
  
  
• Trochanteriidae
  Trochanteriidae
  The Trochanteriidae are a spider family with 149 species in 18 genera.-Distribution:Most genera are endemic to Australia.Doliomalus is endemic to Chile, Trochanteria to Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil....
  
  

The Prodidomidae, Lamponidae and Gnaphosidae are considered "higher gnaphosoids", sharing anterior lateral spinnerets consisting of only a single article; the lower gnaphosoids (Ammoxenidae, Cithaeronidae, Gallieniellidae and Trochanteriidae) retain a separate, complete distal article that is represented by an entire, subdistal ring of sclerotized cuticle.