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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
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 and fingernails, 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"). |
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nice capture of the spider feasting, I am never one to be able to even find a spider with prey let alone capturing it on camera
- batu
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(10072) - [2008-05-04 11:36]
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Hello Marx,
the spider is a female of Diaea dorsata (family: Thomisidae).
The spider is hardly visible due to its colour. However, your sharp presentation shows both, spider and prey,
well focused and with pretty good sharpness.
Best wishes, Peter
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(550)