Running crab spiders Temporal range:
| |
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Philodromus sp. | |
Running crab spider | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Araneae |
Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
Family: |
Philodromidae Thorell, 1870 |
Diversity | |
30 genera, 648 species | |
Philodromidae, also known as philodromid crab spiders and running crab spiders, is a family of araneomorph spiders first described by Tord Tamerlan Teodor Thorell in 1870 (then known as subfamily Philodrominae within Thomisidae). [1] It contains over 500 species in thirty genera. [2]
The most common genus is Philodromus which is widespread, similar to Ebo. [2] Other common genera include the elongate grass-dwelling Tibellus and the widespread Thanatus, which includes the house crab spider that commonly captures flies on and in buildings. [3]
Philodromids have a crab-like shape due to the first two pairs of legs being oriented sideways (laterigrade). [4] 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. [5] Unlike crab spiders, the legs are generally similar in size, though the second leg pair may be significantly longer than the first pair. [4] [5] This is most evident in Ebo, where the second pair of legs are twice as long as the first pair in some species. [5] 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. [4] In terms of colouration, they are usually cream to light brown and have faint longitudinal stripes. [6]
Philodromidae are active predators and often occur on the stems and leaves of plants. [7] Some occur only on deciduous trees and others only on conifers. [7] A small number of species live in deserts. [7] Instead of building webs to catch prey, they hunt by ambush. [6]
As of April 2019 [update], the World Spider Catalog accepts the following genera: [2]
Running crab spiders Temporal range:
| |
---|---|
Philodromus sp. | |
Running crab spider | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Araneae |
Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
Family: |
Philodromidae Thorell, 1870 |
Diversity | |
30 genera, 648 species | |
Philodromidae, also known as philodromid crab spiders and running crab spiders, is a family of araneomorph spiders first described by Tord Tamerlan Teodor Thorell in 1870 (then known as subfamily Philodrominae within Thomisidae). [1] It contains over 500 species in thirty genera. [2]
The most common genus is Philodromus which is widespread, similar to Ebo. [2] Other common genera include the elongate grass-dwelling Tibellus and the widespread Thanatus, which includes the house crab spider that commonly captures flies on and in buildings. [3]
Philodromids have a crab-like shape due to the first two pairs of legs being oriented sideways (laterigrade). [4] 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. [5] Unlike crab spiders, the legs are generally similar in size, though the second leg pair may be significantly longer than the first pair. [4] [5] This is most evident in Ebo, where the second pair of legs are twice as long as the first pair in some species. [5] 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. [4] In terms of colouration, they are usually cream to light brown and have faint longitudinal stripes. [6]
Philodromidae are active predators and often occur on the stems and leaves of plants. [7] Some occur only on deciduous trees and others only on conifers. [7] A small number of species live in deserts. [7] Instead of building webs to catch prey, they hunt by ambush. [6]
As of April 2019 [update], the World Spider Catalog accepts the following genera: [2]