six-eyed crab spider
arachnid
Also known as: Sicariidae
Quick Summary
A medically significant arachnid
A brown recluse spider (Loxosceles reclusa) showing the characteristic violin-shaped marking on its cephalothorax.
The term "six-eyed crab spider" refers to spiders belonging to the family Sicariidae, which are characterized by having six eyes. These arachnids are primarily found in the deserts of the Southern Hemisphere and include genera like Loxosceles, known as recluse spiders. Unlike most spiders, which typically have eight eyes, Sicariidae spiders possess six, arranged in three pairs. Their physical appearance is often described as having a low carapace and legs that extend sideways, resembling a crab.12
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