26 Apr 2024

Critter of the Week

From Afternoons, 3:30 pm on 26 April 2024

Is it a crab? Is it a spider? It's a crab spider! The common square-ended crab spider (Sidymella angularis) to be precise.

These square-bottomed critters are found throughout Aoteaora, perching on leaf litter and inside dried up fern fronds.

They are ambush predators, lying in wait to grab their prey with their powerful spiked forelegs.

Common square-ended crab spider

Common square-ended crab spider Photo: Supplied via Forest and Bird