Thursday, October 25, 2012

Crab Spiders

 
Amyciaea forticeps (O. P.-Cambridge, 1873) 

Amyciaea is a genus of crab spiders that mimics their prey, the ants. These are Oecophylla (weaver ants) like spiders with brown orange colour. The smooth cephalothorax is high, thoracic slope being steep with the sides and the tall clypeus almost vertical. The eye region is flattish. Shape of the cephalothorax is somewhat similar to the abdomen of ant. The abdomen is globular, slightly tapering anteriorly and steep posteriorly. On the rear end of the abdomen, there are two circular black dots near the top. When viewed from behind, the shape of the abdomen together with the black dots is remarkably similar to the head and eyes of an ant. The legs are long and thin without spines with orange colour. Their movement is characterized by the raised first pair of legs resembling the antennae of ants.

Camaricus formosus Thorell, 1887

These are usually brightly coloured crab spiders with colourful patterns. Similar to crabs they are able to move forwards, backwards as well as sideways. They are commonly found on plants. They can see movement 20 cm away. Although they have weak chelicerae, they secrete extremely potent venom, which enables them to attack insects 2-3 times their size.

Oxytate virens (Thorell, 1891)

The genus Oxytate L. Koch, 1878 comprises a homogenous group of nocturnal crab spiders. During the night they stalk for pray hanging onto the under-side of leaves. When the spider senses the vibrations caused by pray moving on the upper side of the leaf, it quickly pounces on the victim. Oxytate are known to occur in Asia, West Australia, East and Central Africa.



Thomisus pugilis Stoliczka, 1869