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Crablike Spiny Orb Weaver

Gasteracantha cancriformis

Description:

Gasteracantha cancriformis (the crab spider, spiny-backed orbweaver, spiny orbweaver spider, crab-like orbweaver spider, crab-like spiny orbweaver spider, jewel spider, spiny-bellied orbweaver, jewel box spider or smiley face spider) is a species of spider. Females are 5–9 millimetres (0.20–0.35 in) long and 10–13 mm (0.39–0.51 in) wide. The six abdominal spine-like projections on the abdomen are characteristic. The carapace, legs and underside are black with white spots under the abdomen. Variations occur in the colour of the upperside of the abdomen with black spots on white to yellow ground colour and red spines or yellow instead of white. Spines are sometimes black. Like in many other spiders, males are much smaller (2 to 3 mm long) and longer than wide. They are similar to the females in colour but have a gray abdomen with white spots and the spines are reduced to four or five stubby projections. It is found across the southern part of the United States from California to Florida, as well as in Central America, Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, South America and certain islands in the Bahamas. It has also been sighted in the Whitsunday Islands, Australia and Palawan, Philippines. It lives in woodland edges and shrubby gardens. Many of the studies on this spider have taken place in citrus groves in Florida. They frequently live in trees or around trees in shrubs. This species of spider does not live very long. In fact, the lifespan only lasts until reproduction, which usually takes place the spring following the winter when they hatched. Females die after producing an egg mass, and males die six days after a complete cycle of sperm induction to the female. The genus name Gasteracantha derives from the Greek words γαστήρ (gaster, "belly") and ἄκανθα (acantha, "thorn"), while the specific epithet cancriformis derives from the Latin words cancer ("crab") and forma ("shape, form, appearance").

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44 Comments (1–25)

MayraSpringmann
MayraSpringmann 11 years ago

Wow!!

ulvalactuca77
ulvalactuca77 11 years ago

Thank you all.

VichenteIbañeez
VichenteIbañeez 11 years ago

Oh! very nice...and great!!

MichaelWeymannWenzel
MichaelWeymannWenzel 11 years ago

Great!

rubens.luciano
rubens.luciano 11 years ago

Very nice picture.

ulvalactuca77
ulvalactuca77 11 years ago

Thank you Lisa. :D

LisaPowers
LisaPowers 11 years ago

Awesome!

ulvalactuca77
ulvalactuca77 11 years ago

Thanks. :)

Blogie
Blogie 11 years ago

Magnificent!!

ulvalactuca77
ulvalactuca77 12 years ago

Yes they do indeed illicit the thought of a scary face to us humans, but the diminutive size allows for your curiosity to overcome any ICK factor, at least it did for me... Wait, never mind, I have no ick factor.

patty
patty 12 years ago

Interesting spider...different... The whole body looks like a fierce face, bet it scares those who may want to eat them away.... I wouldn´t like to be near already...got the signal =)

ulvalactuca77
ulvalactuca77 12 years ago

Thanks Allen!

allencraig
allencraig 12 years ago

I have been traveling in south america for three years now, and I am constantly amazed at the diversity of spiders. But yours is one of the coolest I have ever seen! Thanks for posting.

ulvalactuca77
ulvalactuca77 12 years ago

thanks everyone!

alin
alin 12 years ago

Whoah...great find!

Ronald Pilon
Ronald Pilon 12 years ago

I dont like spider too much but this one cool!!

CarolSnowMilne
CarolSnowMilne 12 years ago

Hello again! My favorite spider. HA! LOL!

ulvalactuca77
ulvalactuca77 12 years ago

I'd love to Melissa. I have so many Florida spottings it's ridiculous. It's a spotters paradise!

MelissaFerguson
MelissaFerguson 12 years ago

Awesome photo's! I saw my first one this week in a park, they are cool looking spiders! Please consider sharing them with Florida's Flora & Fauna http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8485...
Thanks!

KarenL
KarenL 12 years ago

Awesome!

ulvalactuca77
ulvalactuca77 12 years ago

Thanks Carol! I have a ton. Just trying to decide if any are worthy of uploading.

CarolSnowMilne
CarolSnowMilne 12 years ago

Great added photo!

ulvalactuca77
ulvalactuca77 12 years ago

Ha, thanks.

CarolSnowMilne
CarolSnowMilne 12 years ago

How is Dr. Evil Spider doing! I looked up this spider on-line and all the photos and you have I believe the best one! SO COOL!

CarolSnowMilne
CarolSnowMilne 12 years ago

My Banded Argiope spiders also go by two names. The second is Banded Garden Spider. OK!

ulvalactuca77
Spotted by
ulvalactuca77

Tavernier, Florida, United States

Spotted on Jan 3, 2006
Submitted on Nov 9, 2011

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