Saturday, March 1, 2014

Creature Feature #134: Crab Spider


Crab Spider is a fanciful name commonly given to members of the Thomisidae Family, for their crab-like appearance or tendency to sit with their front legs slightly raised. Predominently, she is an ambush hunter, hiding amongst flowers and waiting for insects to drop by. Some species are even known to change colour, camouflaging with their flower haunts, whereas others resemble bird roppings. Her flattened body allows her to crawl into narrow crevices and hide in small cracks. Her front legs are very strong, and when she locates her prey she snatches it close, incapcitating it with a venomous bite. Although they do not build webs, Crab Spiders use their silk as drop lines, lowering themselves into new hunting environments.

No comments: