About Phrynarachne ceylonica (O.Pickard-Cambridge, 1884)
Phrynarachne ceylonica, commonly called the bird dung spider, is a species of spider in the family Thomisidae. This species is distributed across China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and India. It both resembles and smells like bird feces, which is how it got its common name. This crab spider species has a flat, black-brown abdomen and bright yellow legs. For female individuals, the abdomen is approximately 9.3 mm wide, and the full body length is approximately 14.5 mm. The species releases a foul odor that helps it attract prey and deter predators. This mimicry of bird feces serves two purposes: it works for both luring prey and defending against predators. The species only takes on the appearance of bird feces when it curls up its body in response to a predatory threat.
