Swift Crab Spider
Mecaphesa celer
This record describes Mecaphesa celer (species). Recorded family: Thomisidae. Recorded order: Araneae.
Identification and Appearance
Voucher Specimens: Mature/immature males: Female variations Immature female Palp Epigynum The four spots at the anterior dorsum are a give-away - celer when they form a trapezoid that's wider anteriorly.… Joe Lapp, 8 May, 2012 - 2:28am
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Arachnida
- Order
- Araneae (Spiders)
- Family
- Thomisidae (Crab Spiders)
- Genus
- Mecaphesa
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
California, Mexico, and Central America to Florida and the West Indies, northward to British Columbia and Massachusetts
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Celer means swift (or fast, or other synonyms)
About Spiders: the wider group
Order-level background for Araneae, the group containing Mecaphesa celer. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
As of 2023, 51,673 spider species in 136 families have been recorded, though an estimated 150,000 species exist. Spiders rank 7th in total species diversity among all organism orders. Only 0.5% of spider species pose any risk to human health.
Ecological role of the group
Spider venom contains complex peptides with diverse pharmacological activities, making them valuable for drug development research. Spiders produce up to 7 types of silk from specialized glands. Spider silk genes have been inserted into mammals and plants for biotech applications.
Economic and practical significance of the group
The global spider community kills an estimated 400-800 million tons of prey annually (2017 study). Spiders provide billions of dollars in natural pest control for agriculture. Spider silk is 5× stronger than steel of the same diameter, driving a biomaterials research industry.
Recorded sources for this group: World Spider Catalog, PNAS, Nature, ScienceDirect. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Swift Crab Spider (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by john and jane balaban; Additional contributions by Lynette Elliott , cheins , Joshua Stuart Rose , Vox Sciurorum , kschnei
Frequently Asked Questions About Swift Crab Spider
What is Swift Crab Spider?
Swift Crab Spider (Mecaphesa celer) is a species in the family Thomisidae, within the order Araneae.
How do you identify Swift Crab Spider?
Voucher Specimens: Mature/immature males: Female variations Immature female Palp Epigynum The four spots at the anterior dorsum are a give-away - celer when they form a trapezoid that's wider anteriorly.… Joe Lapp, 8 May, 2012 - 2:28am
Where is Swift Crab Spider found?
Range: California, Mexico, and Central America to Florida and the West Indies, northward to British Columbia and Massachusetts