Phrynarachne ceylonica

Phrynarachne ceylonica

Phrynarachne Ceylonica is a spider species in the taxonomic classification of the crab spiders (Thomisidae). The spider Phrynarachne ceylonica‘s foul smell may help it attract prey and deter predators.
Master of mimicry - Bird dung spider Here is the macro image of Phrynarachne ceylonica which i had shared earlier. Bird Dropping Spider,Phrynarachne ceylonica,bangalore,blue bottle fly,india,karnataka,spider

Naming

Ornithoscatoides nigra
Ornithoscatoides ceylonica

The animal belongs to the genus Phrynarachne. The scientific name of the species was first validly published in 1884 by Octavius ​​Pickard-Cambridge.
Bird's Dropping Spider - Phrynarachne ceylonica Bird's Dropping Spider - Phrynarachne ceylonica with bright yellow colour on its front legs/claws and tip of claws in black colour. Bird Dropping Spider,Bird's Dropping Spider,Palawan,Philippines,Phrynarachne,Phrynarachne ceylonica,Phrynarachne sp,Spider

Habitat

Undergrowth at forest fringes in South-East Asia
Feeding Frenzy! Was happy to find this Bird Dung's Crab Spider feeding on a Stink Bug (Dalpada oculata) and didn't noticed the other tiny bugs on it until I review my pics at home. Also joining the feast were several tiny flies (with red eyes), one of them can be clearly seen in the picture, very fat. And on the Spider, there was a Biting Midge (with pink wings). Bird Dung's Crab Spider,Crab Spider,Malaysia,Penang,Phrynarachne ceylonica,Spider

Defense

they mimic bird droppings in colour, shape, size and smell, deceiving predators. When they draw their legs close to their body and stop moving, the masquerade is complete.

“Birds, almost all with good eyesight, will not go for what appears to be their own turd for food,” says Joseph K.H. Koh of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum in Singapore.

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn28124-zoologger-a-spider-that-looks-and-smells-like-bird-droppings/
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassArachnida
OrderAraneae
FamilyThomisidae
GenusPhrynarachne
SpeciesPhrynarachne ceylonica
Photographed in
India
Malaysia
Philippines