Wolf spiders are Lycosidae family members within the arachnid order of mites, scorpions, spiders, and ticks. More than 2,000 extra-polar species belong to the wolf spider family of tarantula look-alikes. They carry their common name from wolf-like:
• black, brown, grey, orange marks or stripes;
• furry, hairy coats;
• hunting -- not web-ambushing -- beetles, cockroaches, and grasshoppers;
• keen vision; and
• sharp fangs.
Scientists describe wolf spiders':
• employing eight head-attached legs for running and two head-attached pedipalps for mating;
• having a bottom set of four small eyes, middle set of two big eyes, and top set of two smaller eyes;
• projecting eye-shine in flashlight; and
• sporting spinnerets -- for weaving webbed shelters, not traps -- attached to the abdomen.