Crab spider
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Amyciaea |
Crab spiders make up the Thomisidae family of the Araneae order. They are also commonly called "flower spiders" because they are most often found on flowers, lying in ambush for prey. Crab spiders do not build webs to trap prey, but are active hunters much like the jumping spiders (Salticidae).
They are called crab spiders because of their first two pairs of legs, which are held out to the side giving them (with their flattened, angular bodies) a crab-like appearance. Also, like crabs, these spiders move sideways and backwards more easily than forwards.
The spider family Aphantochilidae was incorporated into the Thomisidae in the late 1980s. Aphantochilus species mimic Cephalotes ants, on which they prey.
The spiders of Thomisidae are not known to be harmful to humans. Spiders of an unrelated genus, Sicarius, also resemble crabs (and are sometimes referred to as "crab spiders"). Sicarius spiders, close cousins to the recluse spiders, are highly venomous.
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[edit] Systematics
The following subfamilies are recognized:
- Aphantochilinae (3 genera)
- Bominae Ono, 1984 (9 genera)
- Dietinae (32 genera)
- Stephanopinae (35 genera)
- Stiphropodinae (3 genera)
- Strophiinae (8 genera)
- Thomisinae (67 genera)
- incertae sedis
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- Ansiea Lehtinen, 2005
- Carcinarachne Schmidt, 1956
- Cozyptila Lehtinen & Marusik, 2005
- Ebelingia Lehtinen, 2005
- Facundia Petrunkevitch, 1942 † (fossil)
- Fiducia Petrunkevitch, 1942 † (fossil)
- Henriksenia Lehtinen, 2005
- Hexommulocymus Caporiacco, 1955
- Ledouxia Lehtinen, 2005
- Mastira Thorell, 1891
- Megapyge Caporiacco, 1947
- Modysticus Gertsch, 1953
- Rejanellus Lise, 2005
- Syphax Koch & Berendt, 1854 † (fossil)
- Tarrocanus Simon, 1895
- Taypaliito Barrion & Litsinger, 1995
[edit] Gallery
 Misumenoides formocipes |
 Misumena_vatia with wasp |
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[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Biolib family Thomisidae
- Lise, A.A. (2005). Rejanellus, a new genus of Thomisidae (Araneae, Stephanopinae). Iheringia, Sér. Zool. 95(2):151-164. PDF
[edit] External links
- Crab Spider Misumenoides formocipes diagnostic photos
- Crab Spider Xysticus sp. photos and information
- Tmarus angulatus guarding her eggs
- Picture of Amyciaea albomaculata
- Pictures and text of crab spiders
- Photos of American Crab Spiders
- Photos and Info on Australian Crab Spiders
- Kentucky Crab Spiders Photos and Information
- Picture of Stephanopis championi
- Pictures of crab spiders (free for noncommercial use)
