Lynx Spider

Yellow Lynx Spider - Oxyopes Variabilis

Description:

The family name, Oxyopidae, is derived from the Greek meaning sharp sighted but the name for the genus for Oxyopes seems to differ The colloquial name refers to the catlike manner of prey capture. The family has a world wide occurrence with 3 genera found in South Africa. Oxyopids are diurnal, arboreal (plant living) spiders usually found on shrubs, grasses and trees, using their excellent vision to pursue and catch prey. They are 3 clawed spiders which abandon the web-bound life-style for a more active cursorial one. Recently, a Costa Rican species of the genus Tapinillus has been reported to build a web. Not much is known about the biology of our lynx spiders. Most observations have been of the odd American or foreign species. This is an interesting family to observe and record ones findings. Oxyopids range from small to large spiders (5–25mm). Viewed head-on, the cephalic (head) area is high, with 6 of the 8 eyes arranged in a hexagonal formation with a large clypeus (area below eyes to anterior edge of carapace – [something like a large upper lip]).

Notes:

Oxyopes (golden or grass lynx spiders) Derived from the Greek "oxys" means "quick" and "pesos" means "footed" with reference to the spiders fleet footedness. The integument covered with yellow to grey spatulate setae giving the spider its cryptic colour to blend in with the vegetation. Oxyopes actively searches for prey, it stalks and often leaps from branch to leaf and finally pouncing on its prey or leaping a few centimeters into the air to catch flying insects - Project Noah

Lynx spider is the common namefor any member of the familyOxyopidae. Most species make little use of webs, instead spending their lives as hunting spiders on plants. Many species frequent flowers in particular, ambushing pollinators, much as crab spiders do. They tend to tolerate members of their own species more than most spiders do, and at least one species has been identified as exhibiting social behaviour. - wikipedia