Running Crab Spiders
family of suborder “Typical Spiders“
1 family, 2 species
Philodromids are spider species with a crab-like shape, where their first two pairs of legs are oriented sideways. They are active predators found on plants, with some species living in deserts. Unlike crab spiders, philodromids have legs of similar size, with the second pair sometimes being longer. They do not build webs but hunt by ambush. Philodromids are usually cream to light brown with faint stripes and have eyes in two curved rows.
Hierarchy
species of family “Running Crab Spiders“
1 species
Description#
Philodromids have a crab-like shape due to the first two pairs of legs being oriented sideways (laterigrade). This is superficially similar to the “true” crab spiders (Thomisidae), such as Misumena vatia, but these families are not as closely related as previously thought. Unlike crab spiders, the legs are generally similar in size, though the second leg pair may be significantly longer than the first pair. This is most evident in Ebo, where the second pair of legs are twice as long as the first pair in some species. Philodromids have scopula only at the tips of the tarsi (unlike sparassids) and the eyes are in two curved rows with the posterior row wider than the anterior row. In terms of colouration, they are usually cream to light brown and have faint longitudinal stripes.
Ecology#
Philodromidae are active predators and often occur on the stems and leaves of plants. Some occur only on deciduous trees and others only on conifers. A small number of species live in deserts. Instead of building webs to catch prey, they hunt by ambush.
Genera#
As of April 2019, the World Spider Catalog accepts the following genera:
See also#
List of Philodromidae species
External links#
Platnick, N.I. 2003. World Spider Catalog Picture of a philodromid Identification of European genera and species
Philodromids are spider species with a crab-like shape, where their first two pairs of legs are oriented sideways. They are active predators found on plants, with some species living in deserts. Unlike crab spiders, philodromids have legs of similar size, with the second pair sometimes being longer. They do not build webs but hunt by ambush. Philodromids are usually cream to light brown with faint stripes and have eyes in two curved rows.
Ancestry Graph
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