What arachnid order is known as hooded tickspiders?

The arachnid order known as hooded tickspiders is Ricinulei.

Ricinuleids are a small, unusual order of predatory arachnids found mainly in tropical leaf litter, rainforest floors, and caves. Their nickname comes from the hood-like cucullus at the front of the body. This movable structure can rise and fall over the head, hiding the mouthparts and chelicerae when lowered.

Living Ricinulei are typically only 5–10 millimetres long and have no functional eyes. They navigate with sensory appendages, especially their elongated second pair of legs, which are used much like antennae. Their thick cuticle gives them a compact, armored appearance, while small pincers on the pedipalps help them handle prey.

The order is especially interesting because its living diversity is small but its history is ancient. As of 2022, 103 living species had been described in one family, Ricinoididae, while fossils show that the lineage extends back more than 300 million years. Ricinulei should not be confused with ticks: both are arachnids, but they belong to separate lineages and have very different body plans.