Giant Crab Spiders (Sparassidae)

Giant crab spiders, also called huntsman spiders, with almost 1500 species, are a diverse family of predominantly large, free-living spiders. The similarity to crab spiders, which is reflected in their common name, is only superficial. The two families are not closely related. Their names just refer to similar movement patterns. Giant crab spiders have their legs directed sideways and usually move sideways, although they can also move forwards and backwards — and all at about the same speed. In this sense, they are similar to both crabs and crab spiders. In addition, sparassids can be recognized by their large, flat bodies and noticeably long legs. At the tips of the legs are dense pads of adhesive hairs (scopulae), which allow the spiders to move on vertical structures or under ceilings, even on smooth surfaces like glass.