A little creature

[alessia55]

No idea what kind of crab this is. It was only about 2-3" big. I found it in my backyard and thought I'd see if anyone here can ID it. I've been looking online but can't seem to figure out what it is. I'm in South FL.

...It occurred to me that it might be a spider, but it moves like a crab. I'm a terrible with little bugs/crustaceans like these!

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/523001_4244853915199_328758252_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/406091_4244853635192_483779161_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/599601_4244853355185_72148607_n.jpg

[EmbraceCalamity]

Crab Spider Spider Friends (http://arachnofriends.wordpress.com/2008/04/18/crab-spider/)

I'm not a spider person, but pretty cool-looking.

~Maggot

[BarelyBreathing]

That is AWESOME!

[MoreliAddict]

Don't like...

[dinosaurdammit]

http://thisistrovegeneralstore.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/red-wing-boots-brown-moc-toe-29190-16483_zoom.jpg

I am going to need a bigger boot...

http://www.swcbulletin.com/media/full/jpg/2009/07/29/boot-web_w3aa.jpg

Thaaaatss beter.

[Wyldrose]

What ever it is almost makes me thankful for the 5 feet of snow we have right now ;)

[TragicTaste]

So cute, yet so spooky.

[Aaron_S]

...I am going to need a bigger boot...

hehehe

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v111/godzilla99/bartbooting.jpg

[Will0W783]

I think that thing is pretty cool-looking! But then, I love creepy critters. :)

[limey]

http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/furzyk/furzyk0702/furzyk070200606/764355-hermit-crab-in-his-shell.jpg

Could it be a hermit crab that's looking for a new shell?

When they grow out of the shell they live in, they often ditch it in search of another...

Just a guess.

Oh hang on... no I'm wrong. I just looked at the pic again. It's not one of those! :)

[alessia55]

Could it be a hermit crab that's looking for a new shell?

When they grow out of the shell they live in, they often ditch it in search of another...

Just a guess.

Oh hang on... no I'm wrong. I just looked at the pic again. It's not one of those! :)
Yeah, definitely not a hermit crab. :p

No clue what it is... I've been looking at Florida sites to try and ID it but I can't!

[DragonsEye]

It's hard to tell from your pics, unfortunately. Particularly in the first shot, it looks like it is on its back. Could you tell if it was?


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v41/obeah/Christmas%20smileys/Nativity_sm_zps9dd90412.jpg

[Pareeeee]

From the photo it looks like a Crab Spider of some sort. Can't tell 'cause the photo is small :/

Love these little guys, they are so fun to tease. They have a great "threat" posture.

Here are some examples of Crab Spiders.

http://siriusimagery.com/wp-content/gallery/macro/img_1791web.jpg
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5089/5267644968_a943cae2a0_z.jpg
http://blog-imgs-31.fc2.com/f/u/k/fukker666/20110218212030ffe.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Thomisus_kitamurai.male.-.tanikawa.jpg/200px-Thomisus_kitamurai.male.-.tanikawa.jpg
http://www.naturfakta.com/images/t_from_flickr_4602008974_989bf37932_o.jpg

And my favourite, the Ant Mimic Crab Spider.
http://static.flickr.com/38/77071851_5fddeb2963_m.jpg

[alessia55]

It's hard to tell from your pics, unfortunately. Particularly in the first shot, it looks like it is on its back. Could you tell if it was?

No, it was definitely not on it's back. It was moving naturally. The long legs are facing backward. If I crouched down, I could tell the front end of it is the short end and it had little claw like things in the front, I think. It was really small though, so it was hard for me to see it clearly :hmm:

[alessia55]

I don't think it's a crab spider though because it doesn't have a "butt" :hmm:

[Pareeeee]

EDIT: Upon further investigation, I think I was looking at the "wrong end".

What looks like the front of a spider may in fact be the "butt" of a crab.

I may have found it, try googling types of "Spray Crabs"

Very similar in design.
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/Arthropoda/CrustaceanPIX/SWCrabs/Crab%20IDs/28022009126%5B1%5D%20crab%20id.jpg
http://www.whatisacoral.com/photos/Percnon_gibbesi-48-thumb.jpg

This particular one: http://www.okeefes.org/Crabs/plagusia_depressa_100_4510.jpg
"The Tidal Spray Crab, Plagusia depressa, Cherry Grove Beach, SC, 10/07/07. Because the spray or splash zone is only splashed by spray and rarely covered by water, the only marine animals found there are those able to live outside water and while exposed to air. "

How close are you to shore? That would help in identification.