Philodromus exilis

Banks, 1892

Philodromus exilis is a of running crab spider in the Philodromidae. It is found in the United States and Canada. The species belongs to a family characterized by laterigrade legs adapted for sideways movement and active hunting rather than web-building.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Philodromus exilis: /ˌfɪloʊˈdroʊməs ɛkˈsaɪlɪs/

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Distribution

United States and Canada.

Behavior

Running crab spiders in the Philodromidae are active hunters that do not build webs to capture prey. They rely on speed and agility to pursue and capture prey, using their laterally-oriented legs for rapid sideways movement.

More Details

Taxonomic note

The was described by Nathan Banks in 1892. The Philodromus is one of the largest genera in the Philodromidae, though species-level identification often requires examination of genitalia and other detailed morphological features.

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