About Sidymella angularis (Urquhart, 1885)
Sidymella angularis, also called the common square-ended crab spider, is a species of crab spider that is endemic to New Zealand. Like all thomisid crab spiders, this species does not spin webs; instead, it lies in wait to ambush prey that comes near. Its diet consists mainly of insects, and it occasionally preys on other small spiders. It can be found in leaf litter on the forest floor, or in low-growing vegetation. A closely related, similar-looking species, Sidymella angulata, shares the same range and habitat as S. angularis. This species is only found in New Zealand, and it is the most common square-ended crab spider native to the country. Its distribution extends from Northland all the way to Stewart Island. It occupies a variety of habitats ranging from suburban gardens to native bush, and is frequently encountered on ferns, especially on tree trunks, dead ferns, and within leaf litter.
