Small huntsman or running crab spiders

See also Family Eusparassidae and Family Thomisidae
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Family Philodromidae

Tibellus oblongus


Genus Philodromus

The spiders of this genus can be recognized by the fact that the second leg pair is longer that the other legs. Their size varies between 3 and 7 mm.
Philodromids are 'quiet' spiders that are well camouflaged but can run very fast to escape or pursuit their prey. When they flee, they run sideways.
The difference between male and female can be great, as the pictures of the Philodromus dispar shows, but in other species, the sexes may be similar.

Philodromus albidus
Philodromus albidus Philodromus albidus
Philodromus albidus Philodromus albidus

 Philodromus aureolus

Philodromus aureolus

Philodromus aureolus male. Philodromus aureolus female.
Philodromus aureolus Philodromus aureolus
Philodromus aureolus male with its characteristic green and purple refective colouring
Philodromus aureolus Philodromus aureolus
Philodromus aureolus female Philodromus aureolus female
Philodromus cespitum
Philodromus cespitum female
Philodromus cespitum
Philodromus cespitum female
Philodromus cespitum Left females, above and below a male

Philodromus dispar male

The male its colour varies between dark brown and black.

Philodromus dispar male

Philodromus dispar male


Philodromus dispar
male

 

Left, a male just before balooning, that is flying away with the wind. The juvenile turns black when becoming an adult after several changes of their skin.Philodromus dispar male and female.

   
Philodromus dispar female Philodromus dispar female
Philodromus emarginatus female. A pinkish brown coloured spider with less defined marking.
Similar to Philodromus aureolus and Philodromus cesptium.
Philodromus emarginatus male Philodromus emarginatus male
Philodromus histrio  
Philodromus rufus male. Philodromus rufus male.
Unknowns.  
Philodromus ZZ007, ZZ008 and ZZ015.

Genus Tibellus

Female Tibellus oblongus Female Tibellus oblongus
Tibelus oblongus
Female Tibellus oblongus Tibellus oblongus male

A beautiful crab spider that can be easily recognized by the two spots and its elongated abdomen. Only two species live in this NW Europe.
Its size is about 8 - 10 mm and it can be found on long grasses.


Genus Thanatus

Seven species occur in NW-Europe. They have an elongated abdomen with a clear cardiac mark. They can be found on ground level between low vegetation. They can be easily mistaken with Philodromus and the wolf spider Alopecosa.

Thanatus arenarius Thanatus arenarius
Thanatus arenarius Thanatus arenarius
Thanatus alpinus
Thanatus alpinus Thanatus alpinus
Thanatus sp.
Thanatus sp. Thanatus formicinus by Lionel Dabat
Thanatus ZZ226 Thanatus ZZ226

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 Ed Nieuwenhuys, 19 july 2016

4 April 2012, 20 february 2010 , 9 May, 2009, 28 June 2007, 3 May 2005, 25 july 1999, 5 December 1998