Venatrix Roewer, 1960

"Small to large wolf spiders (TL 5.2–21.0 mm). Carapace brown to dark brown, with light median band. Caput flanks posterior to PLE darker. Two predominant abdominal patterns. (1) Brown, with wide, light median band and two pairs of black sickle-shaped markings in posterior half of abdomen. Median band with lanceolate heart mark in anterior and triangular pattern in posterior half. Venter dark grey to black, with pair of white lateral bands or spots. (2) Uniformly brown with light median heart mark in anterior half and pairs of light spots in posterior half. Venter light brown, lateral bands in some species. Carapace longer than wide, dorsal line straight in lateral view (Fig. 1B). Caput flanks in frontal aspect a gentle slope. Chelicerae with three (rarely two) retromarginal and three promarginal teeth. Male with tubercle on the outer curve of fangs (Fig. 1C) (reduced in V. penola, V. australiensis and V. forsteri). Labium as long as wide. Leg formula IV > I > II > III (except V. fontis: IV > I > III > II). Scopula on all tarsi and on metatarsi I–II (also on metatarsi III–IV in larger species). Tibia I and metatarsus I with three ventral pairs of spines. MA on retrolateral side of tegulum, usually with ventral spur and lateral process, sometimes as two distinct parts (V. speciosa, V. brisbanae and V. esposica). Long and slender embolus originating on prolateral side of palea. TA either originating at base of embolus or proximal on palea, sickle-shaped; or originating retrolateral on palea and modified (wave-like or bifurcate tip). Large claw at tip of cymbium. Epigyne anchor-shaped, in most species with distinct MTP."  Framenau and Vink, 2001

"Remarks
Males of Venatrix differ from other lycosid genera by the combination of two characters: a tubercle at the outer curve of the fangs and a large claw at the tip of the cymbium. The tubercle on the fangs of adult males cannot be used solely to define Venatrix, as was the case for the arenaris-group (McKay 1974a). This character is also present in males of the Palaearctic species Trochosa ruricola (De Geer, 1778) and Alopecosa fabrilis (Clerck, 1757), but not in any other central European species of Trochosa C. L. Koch, 1847 or Alopecosa Simon, 1885. Additionally, the tubercle is reduced or absent in the new species V. penola, V. australiensis and V. forsteri. Males of Venatrix have a long and sickle-shaped TA originating at the base of the embolus or proximal at the palea, or originating retrolateral and strongly modified (wave-like or with a bifurcate tip) (reduced in V. hoggi). The epigyne of Venatrix is anchor- or inverted T-shaped and most species have a distinct MTP. The male pedipalp of Venatrix is similar to some Alopecosa and Hogna species but males of neither of these two genera have a claw at the tip of the cymbium. Alopecosa has only two retrolateral teeth on the fangs (three in most Venatrix). The historic placement of most species of Venatrix in Lycosa does not reflect the current taxonomic status of this genus. Lycosa is a Mediterranean genus recently redefined by Zyuzin and Logunov (2000). The function of the tubercle on the outer curve of the fangs is not known (McKay, 1974a). The claw at the end of the male cymbium appears to play some role in the mating behaviour. Males of both V. lapidosa and V. arenaris have been observed to scratch with their pedipalp on the ground while courting a female, using the claws to generate substrate vibrations (V. W. Framenau, unpublished data). A second potential function for the claw could be in digging burrows. However, adult male wolf spiders are generally vagrant,searching for mates. If the claws were used in digging, they would be expected in females rather than males." Framenau and Vink, 2001