Laterigrade-legs
Guides
Anyphaena dixiana
ghost spider
Anyphaena dixiana is a species of ghost spider in the family Anyphaenidae. It belongs to the celer species group within the genus Anyphaena. Originally described from the United States, the species has subsequently been recorded from Mexico. As with other anyphaenids, it is likely nocturnally active.
Ebo pepinensis
running crab spider
Ebo pepinensis is a species of running crab spider in the family Philodromidae, first described by Gertsch in 1933. It is a small spider with a body length of 2–6 mm, characterized by its extremely elongated second pair of legs that are at least twice as long as the other legs. The species is found across the United States and southern Canada. Like other philodromids, it is an active hunter that prowls for prey among grasses and foliage rather than building webs to capture food.
Ozyptila conspurcata
Ozyptila conspurcata is a crab spider in the family Thomisidae, first described by Thorell in 1877. The species is recorded from Canada and the United States, with confirmed observations in Alberta. As a member of the genus Ozyptila, it belongs to a group of small, ground-dwelling crab spiders that ambush prey rather than constructing webs.
Philodromidae
Running Crab Spiders, Philodromid Crab Spiders
Philodromidae is a family of araneomorph spiders comprising over 530 species across 31 genera. Members are commonly called running crab spiders or philodromid crab spiders due to their crab-like appearance and sideways-oriented legs. Unlike true crab spiders (Thomisidae), philodromids do not construct webs for prey capture but instead hunt by ambush. They are primarily associated with vegetation, where they occur on stems, leaves, and tree trunks.
Sparassidae
Huntsman spiders, Giant crab spiders, Wood spiders
Sparassidae, commonly known as huntsman spiders or giant crab spiders, comprises a family of large, fast-moving araneomorph spiders distributed primarily in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. Members are characterized by laterigrade legs—oriented horizontally to the body—that enable them to navigate narrow crevices and vertical surfaces with ease. The family includes both solitary and social species, with some genera exhibiting prolonged subsociality where females share retreats with multiple generations of offspring for extended periods. Several species are known to occasionally appear in temperate regions through human commerce, particularly in banana shipments.
Thomisidae
crab spiders, flower spiders, flower crab spiders
Thomisidae is a large family of spiders comprising approximately 172 genera and over 2,100 species worldwide. Members are commonly called crab spiders or flower spiders due to their laterigrade leg orientation—legs twisted at the base to project horizontally—enabling sideways and backward movement reminiscent of true crabs. These spiders are ambush predators that do not construct prey-capture webs, instead relying on stealth, camouflage, and rapid leg strikes to subdue prey. Many species exhibit remarkable color change abilities to match floral backgrounds, while others mimic bird droppings or hunt in leaf litter and bark crevices.