Tiny yellow creature with creepily long legs discovered in China. See the new species

Moira Ritter
·1 min read
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Named for their crablike shape and walking patterns that mimic crabs, crab spiders are found worldwide in soil and leaf litter or under bark.

In an effort to learn more about the tiny arachnids, a group of researchers in China recently collected specimens from spider enthusiasts, and they discovered a new species, according to a study published Aug. 18 in ZooKeys.

The creature’s front legs extend longer than its back four legs.
The creature’s front legs extend longer than its back four legs.

The newly discovered creature, Massuria min, is one of nine known species of Massuria, the study said.

Measuring only about 0.2 inches, the spider has a mostly yellow body and legs, researchers said. It’s front half, known as its carapace, is covered in green spots.

The yellow spider has green spots on its carapace, photos show.
The yellow spider has green spots on its carapace, photos show.

Its wide, oval-shaped back half — also known as its abdomen — is silver and has yellow cross-shaped marks and yellow dots, according to the study.

The spider’s abdomen is silver with a yellow pattern.
The spider’s abdomen is silver with a yellow pattern.

Photos show a female specimen atop a leaf. The creature’s front four legs extend much longer than its back legs.

The spider was named after the Chinese abbreviation for the Fujian Province, where it is known to live, experts said.

The Fujian Province is in southeast China, about 480 miles southwest of Shanghai.

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