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Amyciaea |
Crab spiders make up the Thomisidae family of the Araneae order. They are called crab spiders because they resemble crabs, with two front pairs of legs angled outward and bodies that are flattened and often angular. Also, like crabs, Thomisidae can move sideways or backward.
Crab spiders do not build webs to trap prey, but are hunters and ambushers. Some species sit on or among flowers, bark, fruit or leaves where they grab visiting insects. Individuals of some species, such as Misumena vatia, are able to change color between white and yellow to match the flower on which they're sitting. Other species, with their flattened bodies, hunt in the crevices of tree trunks or under loose bark. Members of the genus Xysticus hunt in the leaf litter on the ground. In each case, crab spiders use their powerful front legs to grab and hold onto prey while paralyzing it with a venomous bite.
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. However, spiders of an unrelated genus, Sicarius, which are sometimes referred to as "crab spiders", are close cousins to the recluse spiders, and are highly venomous.
The unrelated species Gasteracantha cancriformis is commonly called the "crab spider."
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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
There are 9 genera, containing 130 species of crab spiders in North America.
Gallery
 A crab spider on flower, April 2009 |
 Misumenoides formocipes |
 Misumena vatia with wasp |
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 A crab spider is hiding in Iris |
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 A crab spider in Iris |
 A crab spider on a flower |
 A crab spider on a flower with mites |
 A crab spider (Diaea evanida) paralysing a moth |
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See also
References
- Biolib family Thomisidae
- Lise, A.A. (2005). Rejanellus, a new genus of Thomisidae (Araneae, Stephanopinae). Iheringia, Sér. Zool. 95(2):151-164. PDF
External links
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Wikispecies has information related to: Thomisidae |
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Thomisidae |
- 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)
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
