Tags: Arachnid.
Sparassidae (formerly Heteropodidae) is a family of spiders known as huntsman spiders because of their speed and mode of hunting. They also are called giant crab spiders because of their size and appearance. Larger species sometimes are referred to as wood spiders because of their preference for woody places (forest mine shafts woodpiles wooden shacks). In southern Africa the genus Palystes are known as rain spiders or lizard-eating spiders.
