View source for Thomisidae

{{Short description|Family of spiders}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|Crab spider|spider crab}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = 
| image = Crab Spider 6299.jpg
| image_caption = 
| image2 = 
| image2_caption = 
| fossil_range = {{Fossil range|Palaeogene|present}}
| taxon = Thomisidae
| authority = [[Carl Jakob Sundevall|Sundevall]], 1833{{r|wsc}}
| diversity_link = Thomisidae#Taxonomy
| diversity = 171 genera, 2,167 species
| diversity_ref = {{r|WSC_stats}}
| range_map = Distribution.thomisidae.1.png
}}

The '''Thomisidae''' are a [[family (biology)|family]] of [[spider]]s, including about 170 [[Genus|genera]] and over 2,100 species. The common name '''crab spider''' is often linked to species in this family, but is also applied loosely to many other families of spiders. Many members of this family are also known as '''flower spiders''' or '''flower crab spiders'''.<ref name=whyte2017 />

== Description ==
[[File:Crab spider feeding Junonia atlites in Kadavoor.jpg|thumb|left|Crab spider feeding on a ''[[Junonia atlites]]'' butterfly in a ''[[Zinnia elegans]]'' flower]]
[[File:Misumenops callinurus by André Nogueira - 362594012.jpeg|thumb|left|[[Camouflaging]] on a yellow flower, a ''[[Misumenops calinurus]]'' ambushes a [[butterfly]] in [[Porto Alegre]], [[Brazil]].]]

Members of this family of spiders do not spin webs, and are ambush predators. The two front legs are usually longer and more robust than the rest of the legs. The back two legs are smaller, and are usually covered in a series of strong spines.<ref name="agric" /> They have dull colorations such as brown, grey, or very bright green, pink, white or yellow. They gain their name from the shape of their body, and they usually move sideways or backwards.<ref name="britannica" /> These spiders are quite easy to identify and can very rarely be confused with [[Huntsman spider|Sparassidae]] family, though the crab spiders are usually smaller.

==Etymology==
Spiders in this family are called "crab spiders" due to their resemblance to [[crabs]], the way such spiders hold their two front pairs of legs, and their ability to scuttle sideways or backwards.<ref name=whyte2017 /><ref name=bradley2012 /> The Thomisidae are the family most generally referred to as "crab spiders", though some members of the [[Huntsman spider|Sparassidae]] are called "giant crab spiders", the [[wall crab spider|Selenopidae]] are called "wall crab spiders", and various members of the [[Sicariidae]] are sometimes called "six-eyed crab spiders".<ref name="Filmer" /> Some distantly related [[orb-weaver spider]] species such as ''[[Gasteracantha cancriformis]]'' also are sometimes called "crab spiders".

==Behavior==
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2015}}

[[File:Thomisus Onustus in Behbahan, Iran.jpg|alt=Thomisus Onustus in Behbahan, Iran|thumb|left|Crab spider waiting in ambush, [[Behbahan]], Iran]]

[[File:CrabSpider thd3.webm|thumb|thumbtime=43|left|Crab spider on Queen Ann’s lace]]

[[File:Crab spider safety line.webm|thumb|thumbtime=31|left|[[Crab spider]] jumps with safety line, on [[Verbesina alternifolia|yellow ironweed]]. Repeated at variable slow motion to better see silk line. Spider probably ''[[Misumessus oblongus]]''.]]

[[File:Food chain 2023.jpg|thumb|left|A crab-spider is spotted with a bumblebee as its prey underneath a leaf.]]

Thomisidae do not build webs to trap prey, though all of them produce [[Spider silk|silk]] for drop lines and sundry reproductive purposes; some are wandering hunters and the most widely known are [[ambush predator]]s. Some species sit on or beside flowers or fruit, where they grab visiting insects. Individuals of some species, such as ''[[Misumena vatia]]'' and ''[[Thomisus spectabilis]]'', are able to change color over a period of some days, to match the flower on which they are sitting. Some species frequent promising positions among leaves or bark, where they await prey, and some of them sit in the open, where they are startlingly good mimics of bird droppings. However, these members of the family Thomisidae are not to be confused with the spiders that generally are called [[Celaenia excavata|bird-dropping spiders]], not all of which are close relatives of crab spiders.

Other species of crab spiders with flattened bodies either hunt in the crevices of tree trunks or under loose bark, or shelter under such crevices by day, and come out at night to hunt. Members of the genus ''[[Xysticus]]'' hunt in the [[leaf litter]] on the ground. In each case, crab spiders use their powerful front legs to grab and hold on to prey while paralysing it with a venomous bite.

The spider family Aphantochilidae was incorporated into the Thomisidae in the late 1980s. ''[[Aphantochilus]]'' species mimic ''[[Cephalotes]]'' ants, on which they prey.

The spiders of Thomisidae are not known to be harmful to humans. However, spiders of a distantly related genus, ''[[Sicarius (genus)|Sicarius]]'', which are sometimes referred to as "crab spiders", or "six-eyed crab spiders", are close cousins to the [[recluse spider]]s, and are highly [[spider bite|venomous]], though human bites are rare.

==Sexual dimorphism==
Several different types of [[sexual dimorphism]] have been recorded in crab spiders. Some species exhibit color dimorphisms;<ref name="biokids" /> however, the most apparent dimorphism is the difference in size between males and females. In some species, this is relatively small; females of ''[[Misumena vatia]]'' are roughly twice the size of their male counterparts.<ref name="zoo_org" /> In other cases, the difference is extreme; on average, female ''[[Thomisus onustus]]'' are more than 60 times as massive as the males.<ref name=CorcRodrDeMaMoya10 />

Several hypothesized explanations are given for the evolution of sexual size dimorphisms in the Thomisidae and other sister taxa.<ref name="hormiga2000" /> The most widely acknowledged hypothesis for female growth is the [[fecundity]] hypothesis:<ref name="head1995" /> selection favors larger females so they can produce more eggs and healthier offspring. Because males do not carry and lay eggs, a growth in size does not confer a fitness advantage.<ref name="head1995" />

However, sexual size dimorphism may be a result of male dwarfism. The gravity hypothesis states that the smaller size allows the male to travel with greater ease, providing him with an increased opportunity to find mates.<ref name="corcobado2010" /> Females are comparatively stationary, and their larger size allows them to capture larger prey, such as butterflies and bees, granting females the additional nutrients necessary for egg production.<ref name=CorcRodrDeMaMoya10 />

Other hypotheses propose that sexual size dimorphism evolved by chance, and no selective advantage exists to larger females or smaller males.<ref name=PrenElwoMont98 />

{{clear}}
==Genera==
<gallery mode=packed heights=140px>
Angaeus sp.jpg|''[[Angaeus]]'' sp., [[Karnataka]], India
Camaricus sp.jpg|''[[Camaricus]]'' sp., [[Goa]], India
Misumena vatia female Luc Viatour 1.jpg|female ''[[Misumena vatia]]''
Nyctimus bistriatus - Melvyn Yeo - 426989606.jpeg|''[[Nyctimus bistriatus]]'', Indonesia
</gallery>

<gallery mode=packed heights=140px>
Amyciaea sp..jpg|Ant-mimic ''[[Amyciaea]]'' sp., Karnataka, India
Phyrnarachne sp.jpg|''[[Phyrnarachne]]'' sp. mimicking bird-dropping, [[Karnataka]], India
Runcinia sp.jpg|''[[Runcinia]]'' sp., Goa, India
</gallery>

{{as of|2025|10}}, this family includes 171 genera:<ref name="wsc" />
{{Div col}}
* ''[[Acentroscelus]]'' <small>[[Eugène Simon|Simon]], 1886</small> – South America
* ''[[Acrotmarus]]'' <small>Tang & Li, 2012</small> – [[China]]
* ''[[Alcimochthes]]'' <small>Simon, 1886</small> – China, [[Japan]], [[Taiwan]], [[Malaysia]], [[Singapore]], [[Vietnam]]
* ''[[Amyciaea]]'' <small>Simon, 1886</small> – [[Ivory Coast]], [[Sierra Leone]], [[Indonesia]], Singapore, Vietnam, [[India]], [[Australia]], [[New Guinea]]
* ''[[Angaeus]]'' <small>[[Tamerlan Thorell|Thorell]], 1881</small> – Asia
* ''[[Ansiea]]'' <small>Lehtinen, 2004</small> – Africa, [[Saudi Arabia]], Sao Tomé
* ''[[Ansistaria]]'' <small>Sherwood, 2022</small> – Africa
* ''[[Aphantochilus]]'' <small>[[Octavius Pickard-Cambridge|O. Pickard-Cambridge]], 1871</small> – [[Argentina]], [[Brazil]]
* ''[[Apyretina]]'' <small>[[Embrik Strand|Strand]], 1929</small> – [[Madagascar]]
* ''[[Australomisidia]]'' <small>Szymkowiak, 2014</small> – Australia
* ''[[Avelis]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – [[South Africa]]
* ''[[Bassaniana]]'' <small>Strand, 1928</small> – China, Japan, [[Korea]], Europe, North America
* ''[[Bassaniodes]]'' <small>[[Reginald Innes Pocock|Pocock]], 1903</small> – [[Egypt]], West Africa, Asia, Europe
* ''[[Boliscus]]'' <small>Thorell, 1891</small> – Asia, [[New Caledonia]]
* ''[[Bomis (spider)|Bomis]]'' <small>[[Ludwig Carl Christian Koch|L. Koch]], 1874</small> – India, Australia
* ''[[Bonapruncinia]]'' <small>[[:species:Pierre L. G. Benoit|Benoit]], 1977</small> – [[St. Helena]]
* ''[[Boomerangiana]]'' <small>Szymkowiak & Sherwood, 2021</small> – Australia
* ''[[Borboropactus]]'' <small>Simon, 1884</small> – Africa, Asia, [[Papua New Guinea]]
* ''[[Bucranium (spider)|Bucranium]]'' <small>O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1881</small> – [[Cuba]], [[Guatemala]], [[Mexico]], South America
* ''[[Camaricus]]'' <small>Thorell, 1887</small> – Africa, China, Indonesia, [[Philippines]], Vietnam, [[Bangladesh]], India, New Caledonia
* ''[[Cebrenninus]]'' <small>Simon, 1887</small> – Asia, West Africa
* ''[[Ceraarachne]]'' <small>[[Eugen von Keyserling|Keyserling]], 1880</small> – Brazil, [[Colombia]]
* ''[[Cetratus]]'' <small>[[Władysław Kulczyński|Kulczyński]], 1911</small> – Australia, New Guinea
* ''[[Coenypha]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Argentina, [[Chile]]
* ''[[Coriarachne]]'' <small>Thorell, 1870</small> – China, Japan, Korea, [[Caucasus]], [[Turkey]], [[Russia]], North America
* ''[[Corynethrix]]'' <small>L. Koch, 1876</small> – Australia
* ''[[Cozyptila]]'' <small>Lehtinen & [[Yuri M. Marusik|Marusik]], 2005</small> – Vietnam, Caucasus, Turkey, Europe
* ''[[Crockeria]]'' <small>Benjamin, 2016</small> – Indonesia, Malaysia
* ''[[Cymbacha]]'' <small>L. Koch, 1874</small> – [[Sri Lanka]], Australia, New Guinea
* ''[[Cymbachina]]'' <small>Bryant, 1933</small> – [[New Zealand]]
* ''[[Cynathea]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Africa
* ''[[Cyriogonus]]'' <small>Simon, 1886</small> – Madagascar
* ''[[Deltoclita]]'' <small>Simon, 1887</small> – Brazil, [[Peru]]
* ''[[Demogenes]]'' <small>Thorell, 1895</small> – Indonesia, India, New Guinea, [[Vanuatu]]
* ''[[Diaea]]'' <small>Thorell, 1869</small> – Africa, Asia, Russia, [[United States]], Oceania, Colombia
* ''[[Dietopsa]]'' <small>Strand, 1932</small> – India
* ''[[Dimizonops]]'' <small>Pocock, 1903</small> – [[Yemen]]
* ''[[Diplotychus]]'' <small>Simon, 1903</small> – Madagascar
* ''[[Domatha]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Philippines, New Guinea
* ''[[Ebelingia]]'' <small>Lehtinen, 2004</small> – China, Japan, Korea, Russia
* ''[[Ebrechtella]]'' <small>Dahl, 1907</small> – Asia, Russia, [[Portugal]]
* ''[[Emplesiogonus]]'' <small>Simon, 1903</small> – Madagascar
* ''[[Epicadinus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – [[Trinidad and Tobago]], [[Panama]], Mexico, South America
* ''[[Epicadus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Mexico to South America
* ''[[Epidius (spider)|Epidius]]'' <small>Thorell, 1877</small> – Africa, Asia
* ''[[Erissoides]]'' <small>[[Cândido Firmino de Mello-Leitão|Mello-Leitão]], 1929</small> – Brazil
* ''[[Erissus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Brazil, Peru, [[Venezuela]]
* ''[[Felsina]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – [[Cameroon]], [[Senegal]], Sierra Leone
* ''[[Firmicus (spider)|Firmicus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Africa, Vietnam, [[Iran]], [[Israel]], [[Spain]], [[France]]
* ''[[Geraesta]]'' <small>Simon, 1889</small> – Africa
* ''[[Gnoerichia]]'' <small>Dahl, 1907</small> – Cameroon
* ''[[Haedanula]]'' <small>[[Ludovico di Caporiacco|Caporiacco]], 1941</small> – [[Ethiopia]]
* ''[[Haplotmarus]]'' <small>Simon, 1909</small> – Vietnam
* ''[[Hedana]]'' <small>L. Koch, 1874</small> – Indonesia, Malaysia, [[Myanmar]], Sri Lanka, Oceania, Venezuela
* ''[[Henriksenia]]'' <small>Lehtinen, 2004</small> – Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Papua New Guinea
* ''[[Herbessus]]'' <small>Simon, 1903</small> – Madagascar
* ''[[Heriaesynaema]]'' <small>Caporiacco, 1939</small> – Ethiopia
* ''[[Heriaeus]]'' <small>Simon, 1875</small> – Africa, Asia, Europe
* ''[[Heterogriffus]]'' <small>[[Norman I. Platnick|Platnick]], 1976</small> – [[Angola]], Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda
* ''[[Hewittia]]'' <small>[[Roger de Lessert|Lessert]], 1928</small> – Africa
* ''[[Hexommulocymus]]'' <small>Caporiacco, 1955</small> – Venezuela
* ''[[Holopelus]]'' <small>Simon, 1886</small> – Africa, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka
* ''[[Ibana]]'' <small>Benjamin, 2014</small> – China, Indonesia, Malaysia
* ''[[Indosmodicinus]]'' <small>Sen, Saha & Raychaudhuri, 2010</small> – China, India
* ''[[Indoxysticus]]'' <small>Benjamin & Jaleel, 2010</small> – China, India, Sri Lanka
* ''[[Iphoctesis]]'' <small>Simon, 1903</small> – Madagascar
* ''[[Isala]]'' <small>L. Koch, 1876</small> – Australia
* ''[[Isaloides]]'' <small>F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900</small> – Cuba, Hispaniola, Panama, Mexico
* ''[[Kryptochroma]]'' <small>Machado, 2021</small> – Brazil, Colombia, [[French Guiana]]
* ''[[Lampertia]]'' <small>Strand, 1907</small> – Madagascar
* ''[[Latifrons]]'' <small>Kulczyński, 1911</small> – Indonesia
* ''[[Ledouxia]]'' <small>Lehtinen, 2004</small> – [[Mauritius]], [[Réunion]]
* ''[[Loxobates]]'' <small>Thorell, 1877</small> – Asia
* ''[[Loxoporetes]]'' <small>Kulczyński, 1911</small> – Indonesia, Australia
* ''[[Lycopus]]'' <small>Thorell, 1895</small> – China, Japan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore, India, New Guinea
* ''[[Lysiteles]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Asia, Russia
* ''[[Massuria]]'' <small>Thorell, 1887</small> – China, Japan, Myanmar, India
* ''[[Mastira]]'' <small>Thorell, 1891</small> – Asia, Australia, [[Samoa]]
* ''[[Mecaphesa]]'' <small>Simon, 1900</small> – North America, Chile, [[Galapagos]]
* ''[[Megapyge]]'' <small>Caporiacco, 1947</small> – [[Guyana]]
* ''[[Metadiaea]]'' <small>Mello-Leitão, 1929</small> – Brazil
* ''[[Micromisumenops]]'' <small>Tang & Li, 2010</small> – China
* ''[[Misumena]]'' <small>[[Pierre André Latreille|Latreille]], 1804</small> – Africa, Asia, Europe, United States, Mexico, South America, New Guinea, Papua New Guinea
* ''[[Misumenoides]]'' <small>F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900</small> – India, North to South America
* ''[[Misumenops]]'' <small>F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900</small> – Africa, Asia, North America
* ''[[Misumessus]]'' <small>[[Nathan Banks|Banks]], 1904</small> – [[Bermuda]], [[Dominica]], Puerto Rico, North America, Grenadines?
* ''[[Modysticus]]'' <small>[[Willis J. Gertsch|Gertsch]], 1953</small> – Mexico, United States
* ''[[Monaeses]]'' <small>Thorell, 1869</small> – Africa, Asia, [[Bulgaria]], [[Ukraine]], [[Greece]], Australia, Guyana
* ''[[Musaeus (spider)|Musaeus]]'' <small>Thorell, 1890</small> – Indonesia
* ''[[Mystaria]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Africa
* ''[[Narcaeus]]'' <small>Thorell, 1890</small> – Indonesia
* ''[[Nyctimus (spider)|Nyctimus]]'' <small>Thorell, 1877</small> – South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, [[Thailand]], Borneo
* ''[[Ocyllus]]'' <small>Thorell, 1887</small> – Myanmar
* ''[[Onocolus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – South America
* ''[[Ostanes]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone
* ''[[Oxytate]]'' <small>L. Koch, 1878</small> – Africa, Asia, Russia, Australia
* ''[[Ozyptila]]'' <small>Simon, 1864</small> – Africa, Asia, Europe, North America
* ''[[Pactactes]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Eastern Africa, South Africa, Ivory Coast
* ''[[Pagida]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Borneo
* ''[[Parabomis]]'' <small>Kulczyński, 1901</small> – Africa
* ''[[Parasmodix]]'' <small>[[:species:Jean-François Jézéquel|Jézéquel]], 1966</small> – Africa
* ''[[Parastrophius]]'' <small>Simon, 1903</small> – Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, [[Pakistan]]
* ''[[Parasynema]]'' <small>F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900</small> – Guatemala
* ''[[Paratobias]]'' <small>F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1900</small> – [[Honduras]], Panama, Mexico
* ''[[Pasias]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Philippines, India
* ''[[Pasiasula]]'' <small>[[Carl Friedrich Roewer|Roewer]], 1942</small> – Equatorial Guinea
* ''[[Phaenopoma]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – South Africa, Senegal, Sierra Leone
* ''[[Pharta]]'' <small>Thorell, 1891</small> – Asia
* ''[[Pherecydes (spider)|Pherecydes]]'' <small>O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1883</small> – Africa
* ''[[Philodamia]]'' <small>Thorell, 1895</small> – China, Myanmar, Singapore, [[Bhutan]]
* ''[[Philogaeus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Brazil, Chile
* ''[[Phireza]]'' <small>Simon, 1886</small> – Brazil
* ''[[Phrynarachne]]'' <small>Thorell, 1869</small> – Africa, Asia, New Guinea, Vanuatu, Moluccas
* ''[[Physoplatys]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – [[Paraguay]]
* ''[[Pistius]]'' <small>Simon, 1875</small> – Asia, Russia
* ''[[Plastonomus]]'' <small>Simon, 1903</small> – Madagascar
* ''[[Platyarachne]]'' <small>Keyserling, 1880</small> – Brazil, French Guiana, Peru
* ''[[Platythomisus]]'' <small>[[Carl Ludwig Doleschall|Doleschall]], 1859</small> – Africa, Asia
* ''[[Poecilothomisus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Australia
* ''[[Porropis]]'' <small>L. Koch, 1876</small> – Angola, Australia, New Guinea
* ''[[Prepotelus]]'' <small>Simon, 1898</small> – Mauritius, Réunion
* ''[[Psammitis]]'' <small>Menge, 1876</small> – Asia, Europe, Cuba, North America, North Africa
* ''[[Pseudamyciaea]]'' <small>Simon, 1905</small> – Indonesia
* ''[[Pseudoporrhopis]]'' <small>Simon, 1886</small> – Madagascar
* ''[[Pycnaxis]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Asia
* ''[[Pyresthesis]]'' <small>[[Arthur Gardiner Butler|Butler]], 1880</small> – Madagascar
* ''[[Rangkayo]]'' <small>Dhiya'ulhaq & Benjamin, 2025</small> – Indonesia
* ''[[Reinickella]]'' <small>Dahl, 1907</small> – Indonesia
* ''[[Rejanellus]]'' <small>Lise, 2005</small> – Cuba, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico
* ''[[Rhaebobates]]'' <small>Thorell, 1881</small> – New Guinea
* ''[[Runcinia]]'' <small>Simon, 1875</small> – Africa, Asia, Russia, Spain, Australia, New Guinea
* ''[[Runcinioides]]'' <small>Mello-Leitão, 1929</small> – Argentina, Brazil, French Guiana
* ''[[Saccodomus]]'' <small>Rainbow, 1900</small> – Australia
* ''[[Scopticus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Indonesia
* ''[[Sidymella]]'' <small>Strand, 1942</small> – Australia, New Zealand, South America
* ''[[Simorcus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Africa, China, Yemen
* ''[[Sinothomisus]]'' <small>Tang, Yin, [[:species:Charles E. Griswold|Griswold]] & Peng, 2006</small> – China
* ''[[Smodicinodes]]'' <small>Ono, 1993</small> – China, Malaysia, Thailand
* ''[[Smodicinus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Africa
* ''[[Soelteria]]'' <small>Dahl, 1907</small> – Madagascar
* ''[[Spilosynema]]'' <small>Tang & Li, 2010</small> – China
* ''[[Spiracme]]'' <small>Menge, 1876</small> – Asia, Eastern Europe, North America
* ''[[Stephanopis]]'' <small>O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1869</small> – China, Indonesia, Oceania
* ''[[Stephanopoides]]'' <small>Keyserling, 1880</small> – Panama, South America
* ''[[Stiphropella]]'' <small>[[Reginald Frederick Lawrence|Lawrence]], 1952</small> – South Africa
* ''[[Stiphropus]]'' <small>[[Carl Eduard Adolph Gerstaecker|Gerstaecker]], 1873</small> – Africa, Asia
* ''[[Strigoplus]]'' <small>Simon, 1886</small> – China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, India
* ''[[Strophius]]'' <small>Keyserling, 1880</small> – Mexico to Paraguay
* ''[[Sylligma]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Africa
* ''[[Synaemops]]'' <small>Mello-Leitão, 1929</small> – Argentina, Brazil
* ''[[Synalus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Australia
* ''[[Synema (spider)|Synema]]'' <small>Simon, 1864</small> – Worldwide except Australia
* ''[[Tagulinus]]'' <small>Simon, 1903</small> – Vietnam
* ''[[Tagulis]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Africa, Sri Lanka
* ''[[Talaus (spider)|Talaus]]'' <small>Simon, 1886</small> – South Africa, Asia
* ''[[Tarrocanus]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – Sri Lanka
* ''[[Taypaliito]]'' <small>Barrion & [[:species:James Allen Litsinger|Litsinger]], 1995</small> – Philippines
* ''[[Tharpyna]]'' <small>L. Koch, 1874</small> – Indonesia, India, Australia
* ''[[Tharrhalea]]'' <small>L. Koch, 1875</small> – Madagascar, Indonesia, Philippines, Oceania
* ''[[Thomisops]]'' <small>[[Ferdinand Karsch|Karsch]], 1879</small> – Africa, China
* ''[[Thomisus]]'' <small>[[Charles Walckenaer|Walckenaer]], 1805</small> – Worldwide
* ''[[Titidiops]]'' <small>Mello-Leitão, 1929</small> – Brazil
* ''[[Titidius]]'' <small>Simon, 1895</small> – South America
* ''[[Tmarus]]'' <small>Simon, 1875</small> – Worldwide
* ''[[Trichopagis]]'' <small>Simon, 1886</small> – Gabon, Madagascar, South Africa, Guinea
* ''[[Ulocymus]]'' <small>Simon, 1886</small> – Argentina, Brazil
* ''[[Uraarachne]]'' <small>Keyserling, 1880</small> – South America
* ''[[Wechselia]]'' <small>Dahl, 1907</small> – Argentina
* ''[[Xysticus]]'' <small>C. L. Koch, 1835</small> – Worldwide
* ''[[Zametopina]]'' <small>Simon, 1909</small> – China, Thailand, Vietnam
* ''[[Zygometis]]'' <small>Simon, 1901</small> – Thailand to Australia
{{Div col end}}

==See also==
*[[Philodromidae]], also called crab spiders

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
  <ref name="wsc">{{cite web | url=https://wsc.nmbe.ch/family/103 | title=Family: Thomisidae Sundevall, 1833 | publisher=World Spider Catalog | doi=10.24436/2 | accessdate=2025-10-16}}</ref>
  <ref name="agric">{{Cite web |title=Thomisidae - General Information |url=https://www.arc.agric.za/arc-ppri/Pages/Biosystematics/Spider%20Research%20Centre/Thomisidae-General-Information.aspx |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=www.arc.agric.za}}</ref>
  <ref name="biokids">{{Cite web |title=BioKIDS - Kids' Inquiry of Diverse Species, Thomisidae: INFORMATION |url=http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Thomisidae/ |access-date=2022-01-06 |website=www.biokids.umich.edu}}</ref>
  <ref name="bradley2012">{{cite book |last1=Bradley |first1=Richard A. |title=Common Spiders of North America |date=2012 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=9780520954502}}</ref>
  <ref name="britannica">{{Cite web |title=crab spider {{!}} arachnid {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/animal/crab-spider |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>
  <ref name="corcobado2010">{{cite journal |last1=Corcobado |first1=G. |last2=Rodríguez-Gironés |first2=M.A. |last3=De Mas |first3=E. |last4=Moya-Laraño |first4=J. |year=2010 |title=Introducing the refined gravity hypothesis of extreme sexual size dimorphism |journal=BMC Evolutionary Biology |volume=10 |issue=1 |page=236 |bibcode=2010BMCEE..10..236C |doi=10.1186/1471-2148-10-236 |pmc=2924870 |pmid=20682029 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
  <ref name="CorcRodrDeMaMoya10">{{Cite journal |last1=Corcobado |first1=G. |last2=Rodríguez-Gironés |first2=M.A. |last3=De Mas |first3=E. |last4=Moya-Laraño |first4=J. |year=2010 |title=Introducing the refined gravity hypothesis of extreme sexual size dimorphism |journal=BMC Evolutionary Biology |volume=10 |issue=1 |page=236 |doi=10.1186/1471-2148-10-236 |name-list-style=amp |pmid=20682029 |pmc=2924870 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2010BMCEE..10..236C }}</ref>
  <ref name="Filmer">{{cite book |last=Filmer |first=Martin |title=Southern African Spiders |publisher=BHB International / Struik |location=City |year=1997 |isbn=1-86825-188-8 }}</ref>
  <ref name="head1995">{{cite journal |last1=Head |first1=G |year=1995 |title=Selection on Fecundity and Variation in the Degree of Sexual Size Dimorphism Among Spider Species (Class Araneae) |journal=Evolution |volume=49 |issue=4 |pages=776–781 |doi=10.2307/2410330 |jstor=2410330 |pmid=28565139}}</ref>
  <ref name="hormiga2000">{{cite journal |last1=Hormiga |first1=G |last2=Scharff |first2=N |last3=Coddington |first3=J.A. |year=2000 |title=The Phylogenetic Basis of Sexual Size Dimorphism in Orb-Weaving Spiders (Araneae, Obiculariae) |journal=Systematic Biology |volume=49 |issue=3 |pages=435–462 |doi=10.1080/10635159950127330 |pmid=12116421 |doi-access=free}}</ref>
  <ref name="PrenElwoMont98">{{Cite journal |last1=Prenter |first1=J. |last2=Elwood |first2=R.W. |last3=Montgomery |first3=W.I. |year=1998 |title=No Association between Sexual Size Dimorphism and Life Histories in Spiders |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences |volume=265 |issue=1390 |pages=57–62 |doi=10.1098/rspb.1998.0264 |name-list-style=amp |pmc=1688762 }}</ref>
  <ref name="whyte2017">{{cite book |last1=Whyte |first1=Robert |last2=Anderson |first2=Greg |title=A field guide to spiders of Australia |date=2017 |publisher=Csiro Publishing |isbn=9780643107083}}</ref>
  <ref name="WSC_stats">{{cite web |title=Currently valid spider genera and species |url=http://www.wsc.nmbe.ch/statistics |access-date=4 December 2021 |work=World Spider Catalog |publisher=Natural History Museum Bern}}</ref>
  <ref name="zoo_org">{{Cite web |title=Flower (a.k.a. Goldenrod) Crab Spider (''Misumena vatia'') |url=http://www.zoo.org/document.doc?id=203 |access-date=2015-10-30 |publisher=Woodland Park Zoo}}</ref>
}}

==External links==
* {{inaturalist taxon}}

* [http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/subimages.cfm?SUB=4319 Pictures of crab spiders] (free for noncommercial use)
* [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?where-genre=Animal&query_src=photos_fauna_index&rel-taxon=contains&where-taxon=Misumena+vatia Photos of crab spiders] hosted by University of California, Berkeley

{{Araneae}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q12023}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Thomisidae| ]]
[[Category:Araneomorphae families]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl Jakob Sundevall]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]