Crab spider facts for kids

Quick facts for kidsCrab spiders
	Camouflaged crab spider on a violet flower
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Family:	Thomisidae; Sundevall, 1833
Diversity
	170 genera, > 2,000 species

Crab spiders are the Thomisidae family of spiders. They have 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 use their powerful front legs to grab and hold onto prey while paralyzing it with a venomous bite.

Crab spiders are hunters and ambushers. Some species sit on or among flowers, bark, fruit or leaves where they grab visiting insects. Their species use camouflage: several different types are known.

Some species are disguised as birds' droppings resting on a leaf. Even at a close range, it is difficult to tell the difference. Crab spiders live in rainforests all over the world. They get their name from the way they scuttle around, like small crabs.

Images for kids

Crab spider feeding on a Junonia atlites butterfly in a Zinnia elegans flower
Female Thomisus, sitting in ambush in a Felicia flower
Female Thomisus
Female Thomisus feeding on housefly snatched live from the finger of photographer
Male Thomisus feeding on small insect, probably a Heteroptera, the fingerprint gives some idea of the scale
Thomisus female with male on back awaiting opportunity to mate, probably when she next feeds, note the shape of the distal ends of his pedipalps.
Female Xysticus
Female Synema awaiting prey on Lavandula
Bee caught by camouflaged crab spider
Angaeus spider from Coorg, Karnataka, India
Ant-mimic Amyciaea sp. from Coorg, Karnataka, India
Phyrnarachne spider mimicking bird-dropping, Kabini, Karnataka, India
Camaricus spider from Goa, India
Xysticus spider feeding on an ant, Goa, India
Runcinia spider on an inflorescence, Goa, India
Misumena spider from Kabini, Karnataka, India
Crab spider's yellow legs can be seen; it has grabbed the butterfly
A crab spider hiding in the Twin Lantana
Crab spider with fly prey